IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Pnotographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Nrtes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couieur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagee 

Covers  restored  and/or  lai 
Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  pelliculie 

Br  title  missing/ 

tre  de  couverture  manque 

ured  maps/ 
Cartes  g^ographiques  en  coulaur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue 

Encre  de  couieur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

ired  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
has  et/ou  illustrations  en  couieur 

d  with  other  material/ 
avac  d'autres  documents 


I      j    Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

□    Cover  title  missing/ 
Let 

I      I    Coloured  maps/ 

I      I    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 

□    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
P\ani 

□    Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli« 


n 


n 


Tight  binding  may  causa  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
dlstorsion  le  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout^es 
lors  dune  restauration  apparaissant  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  it6  filmdes. 


L'Institut  a  microfilme  le  meilleur  e.xemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  eti  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut  dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographtque,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite.  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  una 
modification  dans  la  mithode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-Jessous. 


T 
tc 


I      I    Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couieur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag^es 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaurees  et/ou  pelliculdes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxe( 
Pages  ddcolor^es.  tachetdes  ou  piquees 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  detachees 

Showthroughy 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Qualite  indgale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materia 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


r~l    Pages  damaged/ 

j      I    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

r~|    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I      j    Pages  detached/ 

I    n    Showthrough/ 

I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I    includes  supplementary  material/ 

r~l    Only  edition  available/ 


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Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc..  cnt  6t§  film^es  d  nouveau  ds  facon  a 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


H 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl^mentaires; 


Irregular  pagination  ;  (i]  •  xv,  v  ■  xiv,  [1],  [1]  -  383  p. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  be'ow/ 
Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqud  cl-dessous. 
10X  14X  18X  22X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


26X 


SOX 


y 


24X 


28X 


□ 

32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library 

Indian  and  Northern  Affairs 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  qua.ity 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  origint.!  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  Illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —^(meaning  "CON- 
TINUfiD"),  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  'END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  comer,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  m^'ny  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'exemplaire  filmA  fut  reproduit  grice  d  la 
g^nirositi  de: 

Bibliothdque 

Affaires  indiennes  et  du  Nord 

Lee  images  suivantes  ont  6ti  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tonu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  nettet*  de  l'exemplaire  film«,  et  en 
conformity  avec  lea  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Lea  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  an 
papier  est  imprimte  sont  fiim^s  en  commen^ant 
par  le  premier  plat  at  an  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  la  caa.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
origiriaux  sont  filmto  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  dee  symboies  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
clemiira  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
caa:  le  symbols  — ^  lignifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvant  atre 
filmte  A  dee  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lors«3|ue  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  11  est  film*  i  partir 
de  I'angle  supirieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  baa,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'Images  n^cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
iilustrent  la  m^thode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

t 


QUADRUPEDS  OF  NOKTH  AMERICA, 


t 


THE 


QUADRUPEDS 


OF 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


BT 


JOHN   JAMES   AUDUBON,  F.  II.  S.,. fee.  cfec. 


AND 


THE  REV.  JOHN  HACHMAN,  D.D.,  etc.  &c. 


VOL.    I 


NEW  YORK: 
OEOROE    R.    I.OCK\VCOr), 

(LATK    ROE    T.l)CK\V()(lI>    A    S(>\,) 
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Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1849,  by 

V.    G.    AUDUBON, 

In  li  e  Clc-k's  Office  of  the  District  Com  of  tlie  Southern  District  of  New-York, 


JOHN  JAMES  AUDUBON. 


The  father  of  John  James  Audubon,  at  the  age  of  twelve  years,  left  his 
home  near  Nantes,  in  France,  and  shipped  as  a  sailor-boy  before  the  mast 
in  a  fishing- vessel  bound  for  this  country.  Soon  he  becfime  captain  of  a 
small  vessel,  and  by  degrees  was  promoted  until  he  became  an  officer  of 
considerable  influence  and  distinction  in  the  imperial  navy  of  Napoleon. 
While  residing  in  San  Domingo,  in  the  West  Indies,  he  made  several  visits 
to  this  country,  and  in  one  of  them  he  met  a  lady  of  Spanish  birth  in 
Louisiana,  whom  he  married.  He  died  in  1818,  at  the  age  of  ninety-five,  at 
Eochefort  on  the  Loire,  where  he  owned  a  large  estate. 

John  James  Audubon,  the  naturalist,  was  born  on  his  father's  plantation 
near  New  Orleans,  in  1780,  and  was  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  three  sons 
and  one  daughter.  When  quite  young,  he  resided  for  a  short  time  in  San 
Domingo,  on  his  father's  estate,  before  he  was  sent  to  France  to  receive  his 
education. 

His  father's  desire  was  that  he  should  enter  the  navy,  and  his  studies 
were  directed  accordingly  ;  but  even  then  he  began  to  show  the  bent  of  his 
mind,  and  to  evince  those  talents  for  which  in  after  years  he  became  so 
celebrated. 

Not  only  did  he  in  his  frequent  excursions  in  the  vicinity  of  Nantes  form 
a  large  collection  of  objects  in  natural  history,  but  even  at  that  early  age 
he  actually  made  a  collection  of  upward  of  two  hundred  drawings  of 
French  birds. 

Seeing  his  son's  tastes,  and  that  they  interfered  seriously  with  his  studies, 
his  father  soon  abandoned  the  idea  of  educating  him  either  for  the  army  or 
navy,  and  sent  him  at  the  age  of  seventeen  to  attend  to  his  property  at 
Mill  Grove,  on  the  Perkiomen  Creek,  near  Philadelphia,  which  he  had  pur- 
chased in  one  of  his  early  visits  to  this  country.  Here  he  indulged  his 
passion  for  hunting,  fishing,  and  collecting  specimens  of  natural  history; 
and,  according  to  his  own  statement,  first  conceived  the  idea  of  that  great 
work  on  American  Ornithology,  which  has  made  him  famous.    As  he  after- 


t 


u 


JOHN   JAMES  Al'UUnoX, 


ward  .rote,  ■'  HnntinK.  iishing,  unci  drawing  occupied  my  every  moment  • 
cares  I  knew  not,  and  cared  uotliiug  for  them  "  ' 

Owing  to  a  difficulty  witlx  an  a«ent  whom  his  father  sent  over  partly  to 
assjst  and  partly  to  advise  Inn,  and  who  assumed,  he  thought,  too  much 
authont,  he  suddenly  left  for  New  York,  n.aking  the  journey  on  foot 
mid-wmt^r  m  three  days.  IVom  that  city  he  sailed  for  France  to  lay  his 
comp  amts  before  hzs  father,  who  acknowledged  they  were  just,  and  prom! 
ised  to  remove  his  agent.  He  remained  in  France  over  a  yea  and 
added  largely  to  his  collection   of   drawings  and   specimens  of  st'uffed 

On  his  retm^  to  Mill  Grove  his  father  recalled  his  agent,  and  Audu- 
bon was  aga.n  free  from  all  control.  On  his  previo.^  visit  he  h.d 
become  acquamted  with   Lucy   Bakewoll.  whose  father.  William  Bake- 

rtel ;      .  "t  "•  "'"'    "'    ""'"   ^^"^^'   '^''    *^^^    acquaintance  soon 
npened  mto  affection.     Before  consenting  to  their  marriage.  Mr.  Bake. 

-U   adnsed  A^ulubon    to    engage    in    some  mercantile  bu;iness;    and 

m  nt  ''T^r     1         '.'  "^"'^  *°  ""'^  ^'^'^'  ""'^  -^-^'^  '^^  -^aU-1- 
Z  I  '"""'"  ''^^'"""-     ^^^  ^"•^""^"'  ^— r,  appears  to 

ol  birds'"  rrr  ''•  '.^  '^^""*^  P"^'^'^^*  °^  gathering  specimens   ' 
ol  buds  and  natural  curiosities   than   to  his   business,  wh.ch   he  soon 
neglected  as  he  had  previously  done  his  studies.    His  rooms  were  crowded 
with  specimens  of  birds,  animal,  mosses,  eggs,  and  stones;  and.  indeed 
^ch  an  odor  emanated  from  them,  owing  to  the  drying  of  birds'  skin,  that 
his  neighbors  made  a  legal  complaint  against  him  on  account  of  the  nui- 

irnot  mt'  1  r'  ''"''  '"""'  '"""""'  ^""^°""  ^''^  '-^  f--J^^  that  he 
wa  not  fitted  for  a  mercantile  life,  he  gladly  returned  to  his  old  home 
and  his  pleasures. 

Soon  after,  in  1808.  Audubon  and  Ferdinand  Rosier,  with  whom  he  had 
beconie  acquainted  in  his  last  visit  to  France,  started  far  the  West,  hoping 
to  make  some  investment  or  enter  into  some  business  suited  to  his  tastes 

nv^stfr  ---gements  accordingly.   He  sold  his  property, 

invested  the  money  in  good,  and  was  married  the  same  year 

Audubon  and  his  wife,  with  their  merchandise,  arrived  safely  at  Louis- 
ville, having  sailed  down  the  Ohio  from  Pittsburg  in  a  flat-bottomed  boat 
such  as  was  used  for  river  navigation  at  that  time 

Here  again  his  favorite  pursuits  engrossed  too  much  of  his  time  and 
caused  Lim  to  surrender  the  management  of  his  business  almost  rt'.:!:;' 
to  .ios,.er.     As  might  be  expected,  it  soon  proved  to  be  uusuccesstul,  and 


JOHN   JAMES  AUDUUON. 


Ui 


the  partupis  cleteriuincd  to  transfer  it  to  Heuclorsonville,  about  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  miles  down  the  river.  It  was  while  in  business  in  Louis- 
ville that  he  first  met  Wilson  the  naturalist,  and  the  interview  is  thus 

described  by  him  in  his  Ornithological  Biography: 

"One  fair  morning  I  was  surprised  by  the  sudden  entrance  into  our  count- 
ing-room, at  Louisville,  of  Mr.  Aiexunder  Wilson,  the  celebrated  author  of  the 
'American  Ornithology,' of  whose  existence  I  had  never  until  that  moment 
been  apprised.    Tliis  liappened  in  March,  1810.    How  well  do  I  remember  him 
as  he  then  walked  up  to  me!   His  long,  rutiier  hooked  nose,  the  keenness  of  his 
eyes,  and  his  prominent  clieekbo.ies,  stamped  his  countenance  with  a  peculiar 
chunicter.     His  dress,  too,  was  of  a  kind  not  usually  seen  in  that  part  of  the 
country :  a  short  coat,  trousers,  and  a  waistcoat  of  gray  clotli.    His  stature  was 
not  above  the  middle  size.     He  iuid  two  rolumes  under  his  arm;  and  as  he 
approacluHl  tiie  table  at  which   I  was   working  I  discovered  something  like 
astonisiuuent  in  his  countenance.     He,  however,  immediately  proceeded  t^'o  dig. 
close  tiie  object  of  bis  visit,  which  was  to  procure  subscrijjtion  for  his  work. 
He  opcnod  his  books,  explained  the  nature  of  his  occupation,  and  requested 
my  pat'-onage.    I  felt  surprised  and  gratified   at   tlie   sight  of  his  volumes, 
turned  over  a  few  of  his  plates,  and  had  already  taken  a  pen  to  write  my  name 
in  ins  favor,  wlien  my  partner  rather  abruptly  said  to  me  in  French,  '  My  dear 
Audubon,  what  induces  you  to  subscribe  to  this  work  ?     Your  drawings  are 
certainly  far  better;   and  again,  you  must  know  as  much  of  the  habits  of 
American  b'        as  this  gentleman.'     Wiiether  Mr.  Wilson  understood  French 
or  not,  or  if  t_  suddenness  wHh  which  I  paused  disappointed  him,  I  cannot 
tell ;  but  I  clearly  perceived  that  lie  was  not  pleased.     Vanity  and  the  en- 
comiums  of  my  friend  prevented  me  from  subscribing.     Mr.  Wilson  asked  m- 
if  I  luid  many  drawings  of  birds.     I  rose,  took  down  a  large  portfolio,  laid  it 
on  the  table  and  sliowed  him,— as  I  would  show  you,  kind  reader,  or  any  other 
person  fond  of  such    subjects,— the   whole  of  the  contents,  with  the  sam  • 
patience   with  which   he   bad  shown   me  his  own  engravings.     His  surprise 
appeared  great,  as  be  told  me  he  never  had  the  most  distant  idea  that  any 
other  individual  than  himself  had  been  engaged  in  forming  such  a  collection 
He  asked  me  if  it  was  my  intention  to  publish,  and  when  I  answered  in  the 
negative,  his  surprise  seemed  to  increase.    And  truly  such  was  my  intention  • 
for,  until  long  after,  when  I  met  the  Prince  of  Musignano  in  Pliiladelphia,  I  had 
not  tlie  least  idea  of  presenting  the  fruits  of  my  labor  to  the  world.     Mr  Wil- 
son now  examined  my  drawings  with  care,  asked  if  I  should  have  any  objec- 
tions to  lending  him  a  few  during  his  stay;  to  which  I  replied  that  I  had  none 
He  tlien  bade  me  good-m*.rning,  not,  however,  until  I  had  made  an  arran-r- 
ment  to  explore  the  woods  in  the  vicinity  with  bim,  and  bad  promised  to  pro- 
cure for  bim  some  birds,  of  which  I  bad  drawings  in  my  collection,  but  which 
he  had  never  seen.     It  happened  tliat  he  lodged  in  the  same  house  with  us  • 
but  his  retired  habits,  I  tbougiit,  exliiliited  either  a  strong  feeling  of  discon- 
tent or  a  decided  melancholy.     The  Scotch  airs  which  he  played  sweetly  on 
his  flute  made  me  melancholy  too,  and  I  felt  for  bim.    I  presented  him  to  my 
wife  and  friends;  and  seeing  that  he  was  all  enthusiasm,  exerted  myself  as 


t 


IV 


JOHN  JAMES  AUDUIioN. 


m.io  .  as  was  ii,  ,„y  ,.,nvor  to  pn,curo  for  him  the  «pc.ciin..>us  Ik-  uautcd.     Wo 
'H.nl.d  h.^cther,  aad  ohtaiued  birds,  which  h.  had  ..ovcr  belbre  seen;  hu^ 
icadcT,  I  d.d  not  .ul,.o.ilK.  to  his  work,  lur,  ev...  a(  that  tinie,  ,nv  collection  was 
greater  than  Ins.      1  lunkinj,^  that  perha,..  he  n>i;,H,l  he  pleased'  to  publish   the 
resuts  ol    my   researches,  I  offere.l  them    to  hin,,  n.erely  oa  condition  that 
wha    r  had  dra^vn.  or  might  aCterwanl   draw   and  mnd   to  him,  should   be 
mentioned  in  h.s  works  us  comin-  frum  my  p.Leil.    At  the  .smu.  lime  I  offered 
to  open  a  corre.|.ondenco  with  him.  wlueh  I  thou,.M>t  mi-ht  prove  benelieial 
to  i,s  both.     He  made  no  reply  to  either  proposal,  and  before  nuuiy  .lays  had 
elapsed  left  Louisville  on  his  way  lo  New  Orh.ans,  little  knowin-  how'mn.'h 
his  talents  were  ni)preciuted  in  our  little  town,  at  least  by  myself  and  mv  friends 
"Some  time  elapsed,  during  which  I  never  heard  of  him  or  his  works      At 
length,  having  occasion  to  go  to  Philadelj.hia,  I  in.iuired  for  liMn,  and  ,,aid  him 
u  visit.    Ho  was  then  drawing  a  white-headed  eagle.     He  received  me  with 
civility,  and  took  me  to  the  exhibition-rooms  of  Hembrandt  IVale,  the  artist 
who  had  then  portrayed  Napoleon  crossing  the  Alps.     Y     Wilson  spoke  not 
of  birds  or  drawings.     Feeding,  as  I  was  forced  to  do,  that  my  company  was 
not  agreeable,  I  parted  from  him;  and  after  that  I  never  saw  him  again      But 
judge  of  my  astonisliment,  some  time  after,  when  on  reading  the  thirty-ninth 
page  of  .he  ninth  volume  of  his  'Amorlcan  Ornithology,'  I  found  in  it  the  fol- 
lowing paragraph:  — 

"'March  23rd,  1810:  I  bade  adieu  to  Louisville,  to  which  place  I  had  four 
lettf^rs  of  recomm.-ndation,  and  was  tanght  to  expect  much  of  everythin.r  there  • 
but  neither  received  one  act  of  civility  from  tnose  to  whom  I  was  recommended' 
one  subscriber,  nor  one  new  bird;  though  I  delivered  my  letters,  ransacked  the' 
woods  repeatedly,  and  visited  all  the  characters  likely  to  subscribe.  Science  or 
literature  has  not  one  friend  in  this  place.' " 

Soon  another  change  was  deemed  advisable,  and  the  stock  was  removed 
to  St.  Genevieve,  about  twenty  miles  below  St.  Louis.  Becoming  wearied 
of  business,  Au-lubon  sold  his  interest  to  his  partner  in  1812,  and  on  horse- 
back returned  to  Ilendersonville,  where  he  had  left  his  wife  and  hib  son 
Victor.  His  journey  to  St.  Geneviovo,  and  the  perils  of  his  return,  are 
gi-aphically  described  in  his  " Ornithological  Biography,'  and  show  him  to 
be  a  man  of  uncommon  endurance  and  courage.  Shortly  after  hie  return 
to  Hendorsonville,  hin  second  son,  John  Woodhouse,  was  born.  These  two 
sons,  both  of  whom  have  recently  died,  are  frequently  mentioned  in  his 
works,  and  in  after  years,  as  artists  and  naturalists,  accorappnied  him  in 
his  various  expeditions,  and  greatly  aided  him  in  preparing  his  great  work 
for  publication. 

His  life  here  has  thus  been  described  by  an  eloquent  writer :— "  His  new 
domicile  at  Hendersonville  gave  him  ample  opportunities  for  the  prosecu- 
tion of  his  ornithological  inquiries.  He  was  accustomed  to  make  long 
excursions  through  all  the  neighboring  country,  scouring  the  fields  and 


JOHN  JAMES  AUDUllON.  ^ 

the  woods,  and  fording  the  lakes  and  the  rivers.  He  describoa  himself  as 
setting  out  early  in  the  luorniug,  with  no  companion  but  his  dog  and  gun  ; 
the  faithful  tin  box,  containing  his  pencils  and  colors,  slung  to  h's  side ; 
now  popping  down  the  unconscious  warbler  that  makes  the  air  vooal  from 
some  neighboring  tree ;  now  hastening  to  the  broad  shelter  of  a  venerable 
oak  to  dnvw  the  form  and  paint  the  variegiitod  piui^age  of  his  victim  ;  now 
crouching  for  hours  underneath  some  withered  trunk,  to  observe  the  habits 
of  some  shy  and  timid  bird ;  now  climbing  the  jagged  side  of  a  rocky  pre- 
cipice, to  find  the  nest-eggs  of  the  eagle  that  screams  and  flutters  upon 
the  dry  top  of  the  storm-blasted  beech  still  higher  up ;  now  treading  upon 
the  huad  of  the  serpent  that  hisses  and  wreathes  among  the  thick  leave- 
of  the  copse ;  now  starting  the  bear  and  cougar  from  their  secret  lairs  in 
the  fas  aesses ;  iw  cleaving  with  lusty  sinew,  his  gun  and  apparatus 
fastened  above  his  head,  the  troubled  waterr  of  .woUen  stream ;  now 
wandering  for  days  t,hrough  the  illimitable  and  pathless  thickets  of  the 
cane-brake,  at  night  slet^ping  upon  the  hard  ground,  or  across  the  branches 
of  treec,  and  by  day  almost  perishing  with  thirst ;  and  now  hailing  with 
pleasure,  at  sunset,  the  distant  but  cheerful  glimmer  of  the  lonely  log- 
cabin  fire." 

While  living  at  Hendersonville  he  entered  into  partnership  with  his 
brother-in-law  in  business  at  New  Orleans,  under  the  name  of  Audubon 
and  Co.,  and  invested  in  it  all  his  pvuilable  resources.  He  continued  to 
remain,  }iowever,  at  Hendersonville,  absorbed  in  his  favorite  pursuits,  and 
in  a  short  time  this  new  enterprise  met  the  fate  of  the  previous  ones. 

About  this  time  his  father  died,  leaving  him  his  estate  in  France,  and 
about  seventeen  thousand  dollars  held  in  trust  lor  him  by  a  friend  in 
Richmond,  Virginia.  Before  he  could  obtain  the  proper  credentials  and 
prove  his  identity  this  friend  failed,  and  he  received  nothing.  In  after 
years  he  generously  gave  t)ie  estate  to  his  sister,  and  sent  one  of  liis  sons 
to  France  to  make  the  legal  transfer. 

His  financial  embarrassments  increasing,  he  gave  up  all  he  possessed  and 
returned  to  Louisville,  «  with  his  wife,  gun,  and  drawings."  At  this  time 
he  was  about  forty  years  of  age,  and  all  he  possessed  was  his  collection  of 
drawings.  Still,  with  a  dauntless  heart,  and  not  at  all  discouraged  at  the 
pvospect  before  him,  he  prepared  to  start  anew  in  Life,  hoping  for  better 
times.  At  Louisville,  and  afterward  at  Cincmnati,  he  commenced  taking 
portraits  in  crayon  and  giving  drawing  lessons,  and  with  such  success  that  . 
he  was  again  in  comfortable  circumstances. 

On  the  12th  of  October,  1820,  as  we  learn  from  his  diary,  he  left  his 


t 


VI 


JOHN  JAiMES  AUDUBO.N 


family  iu  Ciiicinmiti,  \vlu!ie  lio  had  been  residing  for  some  time,  and  staitiid 
for  tlio  Houtli,  partly  to  increase  his  collection  of  drawings,  and  [)artly  to 
see  what  conld  bo  done  for  t,  o  support  of  his  family.  Hi.s  diary  gives  uu 
account  of  the  maimer  iu  which  he  spent  iiis  time,  which  may  bo  summed 
up  in  the  following  extract,  dated  "New  Orleans,  Oct.  25,  1821.  Rent(Hl  a 
house  in  Dauphin  street,  at  seventeen  dollars  a  inontli,  and  determined  to 
bring  my  family  here.  Since  I  left  Cincinnati,  one  year  ago,  I  have  finished 
sixty-two  drawings  of  birds  and  plants,  tliroe  quadrupeds,  two  snakes, 
fifty  portraits  of  all  sorts,  and  have  subsisted  by  my  humble  talents,  not 
having  a  dollar  when  I  started.  I  have  sent  a  draft  to  my  wife,  and  shall 
begin  life  in  this  city  with  forty-two  dollars,  health,  and  much  anxiety  to 
pursue  my  plan  of  collecting  all  the  birds  of  America." 

During  all  his  troubles  and  wanderings,  this  great  plan  seems  to  have 
taken  hold  of  his  mind,  and  to  this  everything  else  bocaiuo  subordinate,  as 
will  be  seen  in  the  following  extract  from  his  diary  :— "  Mr.  Basterop 
called  on  me  and  wished  me  to  join  him  iu  painting  a  panorama  of  tho 
city ;  but  my  birds,  my  beloved  birds  of  America,  occupy  all  my  time,  and 
nearly  all  my  thoughts,  and  I  do  not  wish  to  see  any  other  perspective 
than  tho  last  specimen  of  these  drawings." 

It  may  be  well  to  remark  here  that  Audubon's  diary  is  full  of  exciting 
personal  adventures,  descriptions  of  scenery,  and  the  manners  and  customs 
of  the  times  iu  what  were  then  the  more  unsettled  parts  of  this  country. 
These  he  has  often  introduced  iu  si  arate  chapters  in  his  "  Ornithological 
Biography,"  which  was  Mie  title  he  gave  to  the  text  describing  the  plates  in 
his  folio  edition  of  the  "Birds  of  America."  Some  of  these  incidents  we:d 
also  incorporated,  tbough  not  so  fully,  in  the  smaller  edition  of  his  works 
which  he  afterward  published. 

In  December,  1821,  after  fourteen  m(3ntlis  of  separation,  his  family  re- 
joined him.  His  means  continued  very  limited,  so  that  with  the  ^'^reatost 
difliculty  ho  was  able  to  supply  them  with  the  absolute  necessaries  of  life. 
In  the  early  part  of  1822  Ids  diary  is  very  brief,  on  account  of  his  diffi- 
culty, as  he  says,  "  to  procure  even  money  enough  to  buy  a  book  iu  which 
to  write  it." 

In  the  spring  of  1822,  despairing  of  success  in  New  Orleans,  he  started 
for  Natchez,  paying  for  his  passage  by  taking  the  portraits  of  the  captain 
and  his  wife.  Ou  the  trip  he  found  that  a  box  containing  a  large  number 
of  drawings  of  birds  had  been  much  damaged  by  the  breaking  of  a  bot- 
tle eimtaining  gunpowder;  a  misfortune,  however,  not  nearly  so  serious  as 
the  following,  which  alterward  l)efi  11  liim  :— 


.lOIIN  JAMES  AUDUBOiN. 


Vll 


In  ii  siugle  night  two  rats  destroyed  more  than  two  hundred  drawings, 
representing  several  hundred  birds,  so  much  so,  that  only  a  few  pieces 
•  of  gnawed  paper  remained  of  his  labor  for  years.  "  The  burning  heat," 
writes  Audubon,  "  which  iustiintly  ru.shed  through  my  brain,  was  too  great 
to  be  endured,  without  alleeting  tlui  whole  of  my  nervous  system.  I  slept 
not  for  several  laghts,  and  tliu  days  passed  like  days  of  oblivion— until  my 
animal  powers  being  recalled  into  action  through  the  strength  of  my  con- 
stitution, I  took  up  my  gun,  my  note-book,  and  my  pencils,  and  went  forth 
into  the  woods  as  gayly  as  if  nothing  had  happened."  He  consoled  him- 
self by  the  thought  that  he  could  make  better  and  more  faithful  ones 
than  those  which  had  been  destroyed. 

In  the  fall  of  that  year  his  wife  and  family  rejoined  him  at  Natchez. 
Notwithstanding  all  his  enthusiasm  and  determination,  it  may  be  a 
question  whether  he  would  ultimately  have  succeeded  in  establishing  his 
reputation  as  an  artist  and  naturalist,  had  not  his  wife  encouraged  him  in 
every  way  in  her  power,  and  by  her  own  personal  efforts  aided  him  in  the 
sui)port  of  the  family.  He  writes— "My  best  friends  solemnly  regarded 
me  as  a  madman,  and  my  wife  and  family  alone  gave  me  encouragement. 
My  wife  determined  that  my  genius  should  prevail,  and  that  my  final  suc- 
cess should  be  triumphant." 

After  a  year  of  vicissitudes  at  Nafchez,  wliich  he  describes  in  his  diary, 
Audubon  started  for  Philadelphia,  to  seek  employment  as  a  teacher,  and 
in  other  ways  to  obtain  help  to  complete  his  book. 

He  took  with  him  his  son  Victor,  then  fourteen  years  of  age  ;  and  when 
they  entered  Louisville,  he  says  he  had  just  thirteen  dollars  in  his  pocket. 
Ho  managed  to  find  a  place  for  his  sou  in  the  counting-house  of  a  friend, 
and  to  obtain  the  moans  of  continuing  his  journey  he  took  an  order  to 
paint  the  interior  of  a  steamboat. 

In  the  spring  of  182i,  Audubon  roacluHl  Philadelphia  with  his  collection 
of  drawings,  where  ho  made  the  acquaintance  of  Sully,  the  portrait  painter  ; 
Lo  Suer.  the  zoologist  and  painter;  Ilembrandt  Peale ;  Prince  Carrino,' 
the  son  of  Lucien  Bonaparte  ;  and  other  eminent  artists.  He  appears 
to  luivo  met  with  little  encouragement  in  Philadelphia,  f.)r  he  soon 
returned  to  Bayou  Sara,  where  lie  had  left  his  wife  and  youngest  son, 
payu.g  his  expenses  in  part  by  taking  i^irtraits  whenever  opportunity 
offered,  and  suff.-ring  oftentinu^s  whc-n  this  resource  failed  him.  He  still 
kept  up  his  spirits,  for  he  writes,  after  visiting  the  Falls  of  Niagara-"  I 
afterward  strolled  through  the  village  to  fi„,l  some  bread  and  milk,  and 
ato  a  good  dinner  for  twelve  cents.     I  went  to  bed  at  night  thinking  of 


t 


Tin 


JOHN  JAMES  AUDUBON. 


Franklin  eating  his  roll  in  the  stroets  of  Philadelphia,  of  Goldsmith  travel- 
ling by  the  help  of  his  musical  powers,  and  of  other  great  men  who  had 
worked  their  wfj  through  hardships  and  difficulties  to  fame,  and  fell 
asleep,  hoping,  by  persevering  industry,  to  make  a  name  for  myself  among 
my  countrymen." 

In  the  spring  of  1826  he  left  his  family  at  Bayou  Sara,  and  sailed  for 
England  from  New  Orleans,  with  the  intention  of  seeking  that  aid  in  pub- 
lishing his  work  which  he  had  failed  to  find  in  this  country.  At  Liverpool 
he  publicly  exhibited  his  drawings  at  the  Eoyal  Institution,  with  consider- 
able profit;  but  at  Manchester  the  result  was  otherwise.  At  Edinburgh 
he  made  an  arrangement  with  Mr.  Lisars,  the  engraver  of  Selby's  Birds,  to 
engrave  the  first  number  of  his  work,  containing  five  plates,  the  size 
of  life. 

On  the  26th  of  March,  1827,  while  in  Edinburgh,  he  issued  the  following 
prospectus  of  that  great  work  whiea  has  rendered  his  name  famous.  For 
more  than  twenty-five  years  it  had  absorbed  all  his  time  and  thoughts, 
and  to  it  he  had  sacrificed  both  money  and  comfort.  It  has  been  faithfully 
carried  out,  though  at  the  time  he  had  not  money  enough  to  pay  for  the 
first  of  the  ninety  numbers  proposed,  and  which  when  completed  would 
cost  more  than  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  But  Audubon  was  no  ordi- 
nary man,  and  with  discouragements  on  every  side,  he  boldly  commenced 
the  undertaking,  sustained  almost  entirely  by  his  own  indomitable 
courage. 

"PROSPECTUS. 

"  To  those  who  have  not  seen  any  portion  of  the  author's  collection  of  original 
drawings,  it  may  be  proper  to  state,  that  tlieir  superiority  consists  in  the 
accuracy  as  to  proportion  and  outline,  and  tlie  variety  and  truth  of  the  attitudes 
and  positions  of  the  figures,  resulting  from  the  peculiar  means  discovered  and 
employed  by  tlie  author,  and  his  attentive  examination  of  the  objects  portrayed 
during  a  long  series  of  years.  Tiie  author  lias  not  contented  himself,  as  others 
have  done,  with  single  profile  views,  but  in  very  many  instances  has  grouped 
liis  figures  so  as  to  represent  the  originals  at  their  natural  avocations ;  and  has 
placed  them  on  branches  of  trees,  decorated  with  foliage,  blossoms,  and  fruits, 
or  amidst  plants  of  numerous  species.  Some  are  seen  pursuing  their  prey 
through  the  air,  searching  for  food  amongst  the  leaves  and  herbage,  sitting  in 
their  nests,  or  feeding  their  young ;  whilst  others,  of  a  diiferent  nature,  swim, 
wade,  or  glide  in  or  over  their  allotted  element. 

"The  insects,  reptiles,  and  fishes  that  form  the  food  of  these  birds,  have  now 
and  then  been  introduced  into  the  drawings.  In  every  instance  where  a  differ- 
ence of  plumage  exists  between  the  sexes,  both  the  mule  and  female  have  been 
represented ;  and  the  extraordinary  ch.inges  which  some  species  undergo  in  tlieir 
prt)gres8  from  youth  to  maturity  have  been  depicted.    The  plants  are  all  eopicd 


JOHN  JAMES  AUDUBON. 


IX 


from  nature,  and  as  many  of  the  originals  are  remarkable  for  their  beauty,  their 
use  Illness,  or  their  rarity,  the  botanist  cannot  fail  to  look  upon  them  with 
delight. 

"  The  particulars  of  the  plan  of  the  work  may  be  reduced  to  the  following 
heads : 

"I.  The  size  of  the  work  is  double-elephant  folio;  the  paper  being  of  the 
finest  quality. 

"11.  The  engravings  are,  in  every  instance,  of  the  exact  dimensions  of  the 
drawings,  which,  without  any  exception,  represent  the  birds  and  other  objects 
of  their  natural  size. 

"III.  The  plates  are  colored  in  the  most  careful  manner  from  the  original 
drawings. 

"IV.  The  work  appears  in  numbers,  uf  which  five  are  published  annually, 
each  number  consisting  of  five  plates. 

"  V.  The  price  of  each  number  is  two  guineas,  payable  on  delivery." 

From  Edinburgh,  Audubon  went  to  London,  where  he  made  the  acquaint- 
ance of  the  celebrated  painter,  Sir  Thomas  Lawrence,  through  whose  aid  he 
Bold  several  pictures  at  remunerative  prices.     The  following  extracts  from 
his  letters  give  a  fair  illustration  of  the  difficulties  he  encountered,  and  his 
determination  still  to  proceed.     "  Without  the  sale  of  these  pictures  I  was 
a  bankrupt,  when  my  work  was  scarcely  begun ;  and  in  two  days  more  I 
should  have  seen  all  my  hopes  of  publication  blasted,  for  Mr.  Havell,  the 
engraver,  had  already  called  to  say  that  on  Saturday  I  must  pay  him  sixty 
pounds.     I  was  then  not  only  not  worth  a  penny,  but  had  actually  bor- 
rowed five  pounds  a  few  d«vs  before  to  purchase  materials  for  my  pictures. 
But  these  pictures  which  Sir  Thomas  sold  for  me  enabled  me  to  pay  my 
borrowed  money,  and  to  appear  full-handed  when   Mr.  Havell  called. 
Thus  I  pa.ssed  the  Rubicon !    At  that  time  I  painted  all  day,  and  sold  my 
work  during  the  dusky  hours  of  evening,  as  I  walked  through  the  Strand, 
and  other  streets,  where  the  Jews  reigned,  popping  in  and  out  of  Jew- 
shops  or  any  others,  and  never  refusing  the  offers  made  mo  for  the  pictures 
I  carried  fresh  from  the  easel."     And  again,  "July  2nd,  I  am  so  com- 
pletely out  of  spirits,  that  I  have  several  times  opened  my  book,  held  the 
pen,  and  felt  anxious  to  write ;  but  all  in  vain.     I  am  too  dull,  too  mourn- 
ful.   I  have  given  the  copy  of  my  first  number  of  the  Birds  to  Mr.  Chil- 
dren—a proof;  it  is  the  only  one  in  existence,  for  which  he  pjiid  me  the 
price  of  all  the  subscribers,  i.  e.,  two  guineas ;  and  I  may  say  with  safety 
that  these  two  guineas  are  the  only  t  vo  I  have  had  on  account  of  that 
work." 

Audubon  appears  soon  to  have  recovered  his  spirits,  for  he  writes  :— 

"The  King!  my  dear  Book!  had  my  work  prosontod  to  his  Majesty  by  Sir 
Wulte;   n  aller,  ut  the  request  of  my  most  excellent  friend,  J.  P.  Children  of 


t 


"  JOHN  JAMES  AUDUBON. 

Di  ■.   ^,  iiiLU    lis  WOICIiy  01    all    KlllJrS   in  ffonprnl        'Plw> 

uchess  ot  Clarence  al.so  j.uf  ao«>,  her  name  ami  all  rnv  fvf     l  i         J 

"7"'f "  f'rf^"'  "»•>  ••■■»«».  i .:x^.:i:::tz:t:^:^;^ 

I.  the  tall  of  1«23,  A,u,„l,„„  left  Lo„„„„  fo,  p,,;,,  „„„  ..^  j,^.  ,.,". 
h.  cty  ,v„.  ,,,,„„  ,l,e  celebrated  B„.„„  Cviev,  by  whom  bo  „a,  iuvile.l 
to  the  Bojal  Insluute,  „„.l  i„l,.„,l„cecl  to  its  „,embers.     Au.)„bo.'.  <Iraw- 
mg,  were  much  admired  as  usual,  aud  Cuvier  was  requested  to  mate  a 

r'errtZ^:'!''  --'  -'^^-  ^-  ---  - » ---^ 

;;~«o«  c„„a„y  ,.„  .,.,1 1::;:;^  t;;;:r ;::-:; ---- 

ll.    ,  '""'»•""'  liginvs,  auj  be  ,,r„i»sos  lo  i.,il,lisli  tlicni  snceessivclv  if 

bo  rcecivos  suBBoicnl  mcoiiragcmcut  fmni  lovers  of  ^cieiiee      A  „  rl-  f      ' '    , 

uu.<^sb,,e  to  t,.e  ,reaL , J  ^^^z^^  'X!::::  ::':ZaV':::^r:^::^ 

.        ho„s  w,  1,  H.„,,<,  of  luxury,  sl.ould  be  williug  to  secure  it.     For  ,    ., 
]M,ropeaM  nalurahsts  were  oblio-ed  to  n.ako  known  to  America  tlu   r  ches'  1 
possessed ;  l>ut  ,f  ll.is  work  of  .Mr.  Audubon  should  be  e.,  npl    e    Ve    Si  be 

^^  The  result  of  this  report  was  a  subscriptiou  by  the  Institute  to  his 
Ho  r,n,ainea  in   Paris  about  two  months,  and  obtained  thirteen  sub- 


JOHN   JAMliS  AUDU150N 

XI 

In  tlie  spiiug  of  1829.  he  returned  to  this  country,  with  about  ten  pub- 
lished numbers  of  his  woik;  but  it  waa  not  until  fall  that  he  joined  liis 
family.     He  spent  the  summer  in  Peuusylvauia,  collecting  specimens  of 
birds  and  making  drawings.     In  an  account  of  one  of  tliese  excursions,  he 
gives  a  description  of  the  manner  in  which  he  prepared  himself  for'  it 
and  which  was  doubtless  his  usual  custom.     "I  left  Philadelphia  at  four 
m  the  morning,  by  the  coach,  with  no  other  accoutrements  than  I  knew  to 
be  absolutely  necessary  for  the  jaunt  which  I  intended  to  make.     These 
consisted  of  a  wooden  box,  containing  a  small  stock  of  linen,  drawing- 
paper,  my  journal,  colors,  and  pencils,  together  with  twenty-five  pounds 
of  shot,  some  flints,  a  due  quantum  of  ci.sh,  my  gun  '  Tear  Jacket,'  and  a 
heart  as  true  to  nature  as  ever." 

On  his  way  to  Bayou  Sara,  where  he  had  left  his  wife,  Audubon  stopped 
at  Louisville,  and  saw  his  son  Victor  for  tiie  first  time  in  five  years.  He 
remained  at  Bayou  Sara  but  a  short  time,  still  actively  engaged  in  search- 
ing the  woods  for  nc^v  specimens,  which  he  often  brought  homo  alive  to 
draw  from.  He  then  visited  in  succession  Louisville,  Washington  (where 
he  obtained  the  subscription  of  Congress  to  his  work),  Baltimore,  Phila- 
delphia, and  New  York,  obtaining  a  few  names  in  each  city.  He  was  not 
only  tlie  publisher  of  his  osvn  work,  but  he  was  obliged  to  keep  it  con- 
stantly before  the  public  by  personal  solicitation,  in  order  to  obtain  means 
for  Its  publication.  All  this  must  have  added  largely  to  his  cares  and 
occupied  mucli  of  his  time.  ' 

From  New  York,  in  1830,  he  sailed  the  socond  time  for  En-land  His 
list  of  subscriptions  had  fallen  off  a  little,  not  enough,  however,  to  discour- 
age him.  During  his  absence  he  had  been  elected  a  Fellow  of  the  Royil 
Society,  an  honor  which  he  appears  to  have  appreciated.  He  visited  most 
ot  tlie  principal  cities  in  England  to  obtain  subscriptions;  but  these  came 
m  so  slowly,  that  he  was  obliged  to  resort  again  to  painting  pictures  of 
birds  and  animals,  which  he  generally  sold  at  fair  prices. 

The  first  of  the  four  volumes  of  the  plates  was  now  completed,  and  he 
writes : — • 

"I  have  balanced  my  account  with  the  '  Birds  of  America,' and  the  whole 
bs,.K...  really  wo,uIern,l;ibi.ytiiousand  dollars  have  ,.La  tln^^jty 
hands  U"  .  ;.,  compleliou  of  the  (irst  volume.    Who  would  believe  tl,.,f  .,1  .,  i 
.K^jvidual,  ...0  lauded  i„  England  without  a  IVieud  il/uL  w^^i^  ^i^.^  ^ 

^Hh  only  s.dhc.eut  pecuuiary  moans  to  travel  through  it  as  a  visitor  cm 
have  ae.,„,   .hed  such  a  task  as  teis  puhlieutionv  Vho  would  l^e!^ 
ever  .u  f.udon  Audubou  had  only  one  sovereign  lell  in  hi.  poeUet,  a    UM  " 


if  a  single  individnuj 


!"■  could  apply  tu  burrow  auoLJier,  wiiei 


1^ 


t 


xu 


JOHN  JAMES  AUDUBON. 


he  was  on  the  verge  of  failure  in  the  very  beginning  of  his  undertaking ;  and 
above  all,  who  would  believe  that  he  extricated  himself  from  all  his  difficulties, 
not  by  borrowing  money,  but  by  rising  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  working 
hard  all  day,  and  disposing  of  his  works  at  a  price  which  a  common  laborer 
would  have  thought  little  more  than  sufficient  remuneration  for  his  work  ?  To 
give  you  an  idea  of  my  actual  difficulties  during  the  publication  of  ray  first 
volume,  it  will  be  sufficient  to  say,  that  in  the  four  years  required  to  bring  that 
volume  before  the  world,  no  less  than  fifty  of  my  subscribers,  representing  the 
sum  of  tifty-six  thousand  dollars,  abandoned  me.  And  whenever  a  few  with- 
drew I  was  forced  to  leave  Loudon,  and  go  to  the  provinces  to  obtain  others  to 
supply  their  places,  in  order  to  enable  me  to  raise  the  money  to  meet  the 
expenses  of  engraving,  coloring,  paper,  printing,  etc.;  and  that,  with  ali  my  con- 
stant exertions,  fatigues,  and  vexations,  I  find  myself  now  having  but  one 
hundred  and  thirty  standing  names  on  my  list. 

"  England  is  most  wealthy,  and  among  her  swarms  of  inhabitants  there  are 
many  whom  I  personally  know,  and  to  whom,  if  I  were  to  open  my  heart,  there 
would  be  a  readiness  to  help  me  for  the  sake  of  science ;  but  my  heart  revolts 
from  asking  such  a  favor,  and  I  will  conanue  to  trust  in  that  Providence  which 
has  helped  me  thus  far." 

In  the  autumn  of  1831,  Audubon  again  returned  to  this  country,  and 
almost  immediately  started  on  an  expedition  to  Florida,  hoping  there  to 
find  both  land  and  water  birds  which  he  had  not  yet  seen.  His  journal  at 
that  time  is  very  full,  and  abounds  in  most  exciting  adventures  and 
incidents. 

In  the  next  year,  with  his  wife  and  sous,  he  went  to  Maine,  and  thence, 
in  an  United  States  revenue  cutter,  to  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  and  afterward 
to  Labrador,  still  in  pursait  of  new  birds,  principally  aquatic.  In  the 
mean  time  he  had  sent  his  sou  Victor  to  England,  to  attend  to  his  interests 
there  while  he  continued  his  researches,  making  drawings  fvom  birds, 
and  re-drawings  when  he  thought  that  the  previous  ones  might  be  im- 
proved. 

In  the  course  of  these  researches  he  again  made  a  visit  to  Labrador, 
which  he  has  very  fully  described  in  his  diary.  The  following  extract  will 
show  that  these  expeditions  consumed  much  money  as  well  as  time  :— 
"  We  reached  New  York  on  the  morning  of  the  Ttli  of  September,  and, 
thank  God,  found  all  well.  I  paid  the  balance  of  the  Ripley's  charter, 
eight  hundred  and  sixty-two  dollars,  and  a  balance  of  four  hundred  and 
thirty  dollars,  to  *  *  *  which  he  had  advanced  to  *  *  *  for  me. 
I  was  not  very  well  pleased  that  nearly  the  whole  burden  of  the  Labrador 
voyage  was  put  on  my  shoulders,  .or  rather  taken  out  of  my  poor  purse  ; 
but  I  was  silent,  and  no  one  knew  my  thoughts  on  that  subject." 

In  the  spring  of  1834,  he  made  his  third  visit  to  England,  where  he 


JOHN  JAME8  AUDUBON. 


XIU 


remained  two  years  busily  occupied  in  writing  the  text  of  the  plates,  and 
obtaining  subscriptions.  He  gives  in  one  of  his  letters  an  amusing  ac 
count  of  a  visit  to  Baron  Rothschild,  who  subscribed  to  his  book  without 
seeing  it,  or  inquiring  the  price ;  but  when  some  months  after  he  presented 
his  bill  for  the  numbers  delivered,  amounting  to  one  hundred  pounds,  the 
baron  refused  to  give  more  than  five  pounds,  and  actually  returned  them 
because  Audubon  would  not  sell  them  at  that  price. 

After  a  residence  of  about  two  years  in  England,  he  again  returned  to 
this  country  with  Victor,  his  eldest  son,  to  collect  more  materials  for  his 
work.  For  nearly  two  years  he  travelled  through  the  Southern  States,  and 
even  in  Texas— then  an  independent  republic;  increasing  at  the  same  time 
his  collection  of  drawings  and  knowledge  of  birds.  He  obtained  a  few 
subscribers,  but  his  expenses  far  exceeded  his  receipts.  In  his  estimate  of 
the  cost  of  his  book,  Audubon  never  took  into  account  these  traveUiug 
expenses,  which,  during  its  publication,  had  amounted  to  a  large  sum. 

He  then  made  his  fourth  and  last  voyage  to  England,  where  he  wrote 
the  fourth  and  fifth  volumes  of  the  text,  which,  with  the  last  volume  of  the 
plates,  were  published  in  1839,  twelve  years  after  the  first  drawing  was 
placed  in  the  hands  of  the  engraver,  and  about  twenty-four  years  since  he 
first  conceived  the  plan  of  the  work. 

That  same  year  he  returned  to  this  country,  and  immediately,  with  his 
accustomed  energy,  commenced  the  publication  of  the  octavo  edition  of  the 
"Birds  of  America"  in  numbers,  which  he  finished  in  about  four  years. 
In  the  life-size,  or  folio  edition,  the  birds  were  arranged  without  any  plan, 
except  to  make  the  numbers  generally  uniform  in  interest,  and  as  Audubon 
could  furnish  the  engraver  with  drawings.     In  this  edition  the  bir^V  are 
scientifically  classified,  which  adds  much  to  its  value  as  a  book  of  reference, 
and  to  correspond  with  this  new  arrangement  the  Ornithological  Biography 
was  entirely  rewritten.     During  the  publication  of  this  new  edition  h^  was 
still  engaged  in  searching  for  new  specimens,  so  that  it  actually  contains 
many  birds  not  found  in  the  larger  work.    Its  convenient  form,  and  the 
comparatively  moderate  price  at  which  it  was  published,  with  the  frmly 
established  reputation  of  Audubon  as  a  naturahst,  have  given  to  this  edi- 
tion a  success  which  has  even  exceeded  his  expectations,  and  has  compen- 
sated him  for  the  loss  he  must  have  sustained  in  the  publication  of  his 
larger  work.    It  will  long  remain  an  acknowledged  standard  on  all  questions 
relating  to  the  birds  of  this  country,  and  a  monument  to  the  energy  and 
ability  of  its  author. 
For  several  years  Audubon,  with  the  aid  of  his  sons  and  the  Rev.  John 


t 


XIV 


JOHN  JAMES  AUDUBON. 


Bachman,  D.D.,  Lis  brothor-in-law,  had  been  gathering  materials  for  a 
woric  on  the  Quadrupeds  of  North  America.  He  had  not  seen  the  great 
plains  of  the  far  West  nor  the  Eocky  Mountains,  and  he  felt  that  he  must 
do  so,  if  he  would  describe  properly  the  animals  to  be  found  there,  of  which 
very  little  was  known.  Although  he  had  lost  the  vigor  of  youth,  and  even 
of  early  manhood,  he  determined  to  carry  out  his  long-cherished  desire  to 
make  this  journey,  which  he  knew  would  be  more  perilous  than  any  he  had 
undertaken,  and  which  he  also  knew  would  be  his  last.  This  journey  was 
undertaken  in  1843,  and  is  fully  described  in  his  diary.  When  Audubon 
returned  from  this  expedition,  he  was  over  sixty  years  of  age,  yet  he  began 
at  once  the  publication  of  his  new  work  with  almost  his  old  energy. 

The  first  volume  of  plates  was  published  in  1846,  under  his  own  super- 
vision ;  but  the  second  and  third  volumes,  published  in  1851  and  1854,  were 
published  under  the  direction  of  his  sous.  The  work  contained  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-five  magnificent  plates,  engraved  from  original  sketches,  and 
representing  three  hundred  and  twenty  animals,  either  of  life-size,  or  their 
scale  distinctly  given.  The  animals  are  drawn  with  all  that  accuracy  of 
outline,  that  grace  and  vigor  of  action,  that  fidelity  of  form  and  color 
which  characterized  the  pencil  of  this  great  naturalist.  They  seem  to  be 
living,  moving,  breathing  animals,  instinct  with  life  and  activity. 

Shortly  after  the  publication  of  this  folio  edition,  an  octavo  one  was 
issued  in  i  ambers,  uniform  with  the  smaller  edition  of  the  Birds  previously 
published,  and  containing  as  many  plates  as  the  larger. 

After  1848  his  health  as  well  as  his  mind  began  to  fail,  and  finally  he 
lost  the  use  of  his  eyes,  which  had  been  remarkable  for  their  brilliancy, 
and  he  was  obliged  to  be  led  about  and  watched  over  by  his  friends.  Just 
before  his  death,  however,  they  resumed,  in  part,  their  former  beauty,  so 
much  so  that  one  of  his  sons  remarked  at  the  time, — "  Father's  eyes  have 
now  their  natural  expression." 

But  this  varied  and  eventful  life  was  now  drawing  to  its  close.  On  the 
27th  of  January,  1851,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two,  surrounded  by  his 
family,  the  great  American  naturalist  quietly  passed  away.  His  remains 
now  lie  in  the  family  vault  in  Trinity  Church  cemetery,  which  adjoins  his 
own  property  on  the  Hudson  river,  near  New  York ;  and  his  two  sons,  so 
often  and  tenderly  mentioned  in  his  works,  have  since  been  laid  by  his 
side. 

"  For  sixty  years  or  more  he  had  followed,  with  more  than  religious 
devotion,  a  beautiful  and  elevated  pursuit,  enlarging  its  boundaries  by  his 
discoveries,  and  illustrating  its  objects  by  his  art.     In  all  climatp«  ""d  ir, 


JOHN  JAMES  AUDUBON. 


XV 


all  weathers ;  scorched  by  burning  suns,  drenched  by  piercing  rains,  frozen 
by  the  fiercest  colds;  now  diving  fearlessly  into  the  densest  forest,  now 
wandering  alone  over  the  most  savage  regions;  in  perils,  in  difficulties, 
and  in  doubts ;  with  no  companion  to  cheer  his  way,  far  from  the  smiles 
and  applause  of  society;  listening  only  to  the  sweet  music  of  birds,  or  to  the 
sweeter  music  of  his  own  thoughts,  he  faithfully  kept  his  path.    The  records 
of  man's  life  contain  few  nobler  examples  of  strength  of  purpose  and  in- 
defatigable energy.   Led  on  solely  by  his  pure,  lofty,  kindling  enthusiasm, 
no  thirst  for  wealth,  no  desire  of  distinction,  no  restless  ambition  of  eccen- 
tric iharacter,  could  have  induced  him  to  undergo  as  many  sacrifices,  or 
sustained  him  under  so  many  trials.    Higher  principles  and  worthier 
motives  alone  enabled  him  to  meet  such  discouragements  and  acconjplish 
such  miracles  of  achievement.    He  has  enlarged  and  enriched  the  domains 
of  a  pleasing  and  useful  science ;  he  has  revealed  to  us  the  existence  of 
many  species  of  birds  before  unknown ;  he  has  given  us  more  accurate 
information  of  the  forms  and  habits  of  those  that  were  known ;  he  has  cor- 
rected the  blunders  of  his  predecessors ;  and  he  has  imparted  to  the 
study  of  natural  history,  the  grace  and  fascination  of  romance." 

G.  E.  L.— 1870. 


t 


INTRODUCTION. 


In  presenting  the  following  page<^  to  the  public,  the  authors 
desire  to  say  a  few  words  explanatory  of  the  subject  on 
which  they  have  written.  The  difficulties  they  have  attempted 
to  surmount,  and  the  labour  attending  their  investigations, 
have  far  exceeded  their  first  anticipations. 

Many  of  the   "  Quadrupeds  of  North  America"   were    long 
since  described  by  European   authors,  from   stuffed   specimens; 
and    in    every   department    of   Natural    History,    additions   to 
the  knowledge  of  the  old  writers  have  been  making  for  years 
past;  researches  and  investigations  having  been  undertaken  by 
scientific    observers    in    all    parts    of   the    world,    and    many 
specimens    accumulated    in    the    Museums    of   Europe.      Com- 
paratively little,  ho^vever,  has  of  late  been  accomplished  toward 
the  proper  elucidation  of  the  animals  which  inhabit  the  fields, 
forests,  fertile  prairies,  and  mountainous  regions  of  our  widely' 
extended  and  diversified  country. 

The  works  of  Harlan  and  of  Godman  were  confined  to 
the  limited  number  of  species  known  in  their  day.  The 
valuable  "Fauna  Boreali  Americana"  of  Richabdson  w„s  p^in. 
cipully   devoted   to   the   descriptior  -.ecies  which   exist  in 

the  British  Provinces,  north  of  .  .  ,;.  ,d  States ;  and  the 
more  recent  work  of  Dr.  Dekay  protesses  to  describe  only 
the  Quadrupeds  of  the  State  of  New  York,  although  g^  .-ing  a 


t 


n 


INTRODUCTloff. 


catalogue   of  those    noticed    by  authors    as    existing    in   other 
portions  of  North  Amei-ica. 

Several   American   and   European   Zoologists   have,   however, 

at  different  times,  given   the   .esults   of  their  investigations  in 

various    scientific  journals,    thus    making   it    important   for    us 

to    examine    numberless    papers,    i)ublished    in    different    cities 

of  Euro])e   and   America.     We    have,   in    all    cases,   sou-hfc  to 

discover  and   give   due   credit   to   every  one  who   has  in  this 

manner   made    known    a  new   species;    but    as   pof-^^bly   some 

author  may  have   published  discoveries   in  a  j'-iirnal  we  have 

not    seen,   we    must    at    once    announce    our    conviction,    that 

the   task    of  procuring   and   reading   all   the   zoological  papers 

scattered    through   the   pages    of   hundreds    of  periodicals,    in 

many  different   languages,  is  beyond   our  power,   and   that   no 

one   can    reasonably   complain   when    we   take   the    liberty   of 

pronouncing  for  ourselves  on  new  or  doubtful  species  without 

hesitation,  from  the   sources   of  knowledge  to  which  we  have 

access,  and  from  our  own  judgment. 

From  the  observations  we  have  already  made,  we  are  in- 
duced to  believe  that  a  considerable  number  of  species  are  yet 
undescribed,  while  others,  now  imperfectly  knouu,  require  a 
closer  investigation  and  a  more  scientific  arrangement;  and  it 
will  be  a  part  of  our  task  to  give  an  account  of  the  former 
and  define  the  position  of  the  lati.r 

The  geographical  range  whic^,  r.x  Lav?,  selected  for  our  in- 
vestigations is  very  extensive,  comprising  the  British  and 
Kussian  possessions  to  the  north,  the  whole  of  the  United 
States  and  their  territories,  California,  and  that  part  of  Mexico 
north  of  the  tropic  of  Cancer,  we  h&ving  arrived  at  the  conclu- 
sion  that,  in  undertaking  the  natural  history  of  a  country,  our 


^ 


U^ 


INTP.ODUOTION. 


VII 


researches  should  not  be  confined  by  the  artificial  boundaries 
of  States— which  may  be  frequently  changed— but  by  those 
divisions  the  limits  of  which  are  fixed  by  nature,  and  where 
new  forms  mark  the  effects  of  a  low  latitude  and  warm 
climate.  In  this  way  America  is  divided  into  three  i){iit8:~ 
North  America,  which  iucludes  all  that  country  lying  north 
of  the  tropics;  Central  or  Troj)ical  America,  the  countries 
within  the  tropics;  and  South  America,  all  that  country  south 
of  the  tropic  of  Capricorn. 

Within  the  tropical  region,  peculiar  forms  are  presented  in 
every  department  of  nature— we  need  only  instance  the 
Monkey  tribe  among  the  animals,  the  Parrots  among  the  birds, 
and  the  Palms  among  the  plants. 

A  considerable  portion  of  the  country  to  which  our  attention 
has  been  directed,  is  at  the  present  period  un  uncultivated  and 
almost  unexplored  wild,  roamed  over  by  ferocious  beasts  and 
warlike  tribes  of  Indians. 

The  objects  of  our  search.  Quadrupeds,  are  far  less  numerous 
taan  birds  at  all  times,  and  are,  moreover,  generally  nocturnal 
in  their  habits,  and  consequently  obtained  with  far  greater 
difficulty  than  the  latter. 

Although  the  Genera  may  be  easily  ascertained,  by  the 
forms  and  dental  arrangements  peculiar  to  eac'i,  many  speoiea 
so  neariy  approach  each  other  in  size,  while  they  are  so 
variable  in  colour,  that  it  is  exceedingly  difficult  to  separate 
them,  especially  closely  allied  squirrels,  hares,  mice,  shrews,  Ac, 
with  positive  certainty. 

We  are,  therefore,  far  from  supposing  that  our  ^vork  will  be 
frec^  from  errors,  or  that  we  shall  be  able  to  figure  and  describe 
eve.y  species   that  may  exist  within   our  range;   although  we 


t 


Vlll 


INTRODUCTION. 


have    spared    neither   time,  labour,   nor  expense,   in   collecting 
materials  for  this  undertaking. 

We  have  had  our  labours  lightened,  however,  by  many  ex- 
cellent friends  and  gentlemen  in  different  portions  of  the 
country,  who  have,  at  great  trouble  to  themselves,  procui'cd 
and  sent  us  various  animals — forwarded  to  us  notes  upon  tht 
habits  of  different  species,  procured  works  on  the  sulyect 
otherwise  beyond  our  reach,  and  in  many  ways  excited  our 
warmest  feelings  of  giatitude.  Mr.  J.  K.  Townsend,  of  Ph'.la- 
delphia,  allowed  us  to  use  the  rare  and  valuable  collection 
of  Quadrupeds  which  he  o])tained  during  his  laborious  re- 
searches on  the  western  prairies,  the  Eocky  Mountains, 
and  in  Oregon,  and  furnished  us  with  his  notes  on  tlieir 
habits  and  geographical  distribution.  Spencer  F.  Baikd,  Esq., 
of  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania,  aided  us  by  carefully  searching 
various  libraries  for  notes  and  information  in  regard  to  species 
published  in  different  journals,  and  also  by  obtaining  animals 
from  the  wilder  portions  of  his  State,  tfec. ;  Dr.  Baruitt,  of 
Abbeville,  S.  C,  prepared  and  mounted  specimens  of  Lepus 
aquaticus,  and  several  other  species;  Dr.  Tuomas  M.  Brewer, 
of  Boston,  favoured  us  with  specimens  of  a  new  species  of 
shrew-mole  (Scalops  Breweri),  and  simdry  arvicolre;  Edjiuxd 
Rui'i'iN,  Esq.,  of  Virginia,  sent  us  several  specimens  of  tho 
rodentia  inhabiting  that  State,  and  obliged  us  by  communi- 
cating much  information  in  regard  to  their  geographical  range; 
the  late  Dr.  John  Wright,  of  Troy,  K  Y.,  furnished  us 
valuable  notes  on  the  various  species  of  quadrupeils  found  in 
the  northern  part  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  several 
specimens;  Dr.  Wurdeman,  of  Charleston,  supplied  us  with 
several  specimens  of  various  species  of  bat  from  Cuba,  thereby 


INTRODUCTION. 


IZ 


enabling  us  to  compare  them  with  genera  and  epeciea  existing 
in  America.  To  Professor  Lewis  E.  Gibbes,  of  the  College 
of  Charleston,  we  express  our  thanks,  for  several  specimens 
of  rare  quadrupeds,  and  for  his  kindness  in  imparting  to  us 
much  information  and  scientific  knowledge. 

Among   others   to   whose   zeal  and   friendship   we   are   most 

indebted,  we  are  proud  to   name:    Dr.  Geo.  C.  Shattuck  and 

Dr.  Geo.  Parkman,  of  Boston ;    J.  Prescott  Hall,  Esq.,  James 

G.   King,   Esq.,    Major  John    Leconte,    Mr.   J.   G.   Bell,   and 

our  old  friend  Issachar  Cozzens,  of  New  York ;   Hon.  Daniel 

Wadsworth,   of  Hartford;    W.  O.  Ayres,   Esq.    of  Sag   Har- 

bour.    Long    Island;    Edward    Harris,   Esq.,   of   Moorestown, 

New    Jersey;     Dr.    Samuel     George     Morton     and     Samuel 

BispiiAM,   Esq.,   of  Philadelphia;    Wm.   Case,   Esq.,   Cleveland, 

Ohio;    Ogden    Hammond,   Esq.,    of   South    Carolina;    Gideon 

B.  Smith,  Esq.,  M.  D.,  of  Baltimore ;  Messrs.  P.  Chouteau,  Jr., 

<fe  Co.,  St.  Louis ;    Sir  George  Simpson,   of  the   Hudson's   Bay 

Fur  Company;    John   Marttn,  Jr.,   Quebec;    Mr.  Fothergill, 

of  Canada,  <fec.,  &c.,  <fec. 

In  the  course  of  this  work,  we  shall  not  indulge  ourselves 
in  the  formation  of  new  genera  farther  than  we  may  find  it 
necessary,  and  we  think  the  genera  at  present  established  will 
include  nearly  all  our  species:  we  shall  change  no  names  of 
species  already  given,  except  in  cases  where  their  being  retained 
would  lead  to  error. 

We  will  endeavour  to  avoid  a  mischievous  habit  into  which 
many  naturalists  have  fallen,  who,  by  the  formation  of  new 
genera,  considered  themselves  entitled  to  add  their  own  after 
the  specific  name,  thus  taking  credit  for  discoveries  to  which 
they  were  not  entitled;  on  the  contrary,  as  it  appears  necessai-y 

B 


t 


X  INTRODUCTION. 

to  give  some  check  to  this  spirit  of  innovation,  we  have  re- 
solved to  attach  to  each  animal  the  name  of  the  Jirsi  describer, 
although  it  may  have  been  arranged  by  subsequent  authors 
under  other  genera. 

Conceiving  that  no  author  has  a  right  to  give  a  name  to 
species  which  he  has  neither  seen  nor  described,  we  have  de- 
termined to  reject  the  names  proposed  by  closet  naturalists 
who  have  ventured  to  name  species  noticed  but  not  scientifi- 
cally described  by  travellers.  Hence  we  do  not  consider  our- 
selves bound  to  adopt  the  names  given  by  Eafinesque,  Har- 
lan, and  others,  to  the  animals  noticed  by  Lewis  &  Clarke, 
who  neither  imposed  on  them  scientific  names  nor  procured 
specimens.  We  shall  in  this  respect  follow  the  example  of  Dr. 
Richardson,  and,  in  illustration  of  our  views,  refer  our  readers 
to  his  Fauna  Boreali  Ameiicana,  p.  211. 

Lewis  &  Clarke  (vol.  iii.,  p.  39)  described  an  animal  which 
they  called  Sewellel  No  specimens  were  preserved,  and  no 
scientific  name  was  given  by  them.  From  the  printed  account, 
Rafinesque  bestowed  on  it  the  name  of  Anisonyx?  Rnfa, 
which  was  adopted  by  Desjiarest  ;  and  Harlan,  without  any 
additional  information,  called  it  Arctomifs  Unfa.  Many  years 
afterv/ards,  Richardson  ol)tained  a  specimen,  gave  the  first 
scientific  description,  and  named  it  Ajdodontia  Leporlna,  very 
properly  rejecting  the  names  of  those  who  had  no  right  to 
bestow  them. 

In  ])ursuing  our  researches,  we  are  often  compelled  to  differ 
from  the  views  of  previous  writers.  In  correcting  what  we 
conceive  to  be  ciTors,  Ave  will  endeavoui-  to  be  swayed  simply 
by  a  love  of  truth,  treating  all  with  respect,  "and  adopting  such 
language  as  can  be  offensive  to  none. 


XI 


INTRODUOTIO^r. 

For  the  sake  of  convenience  and  uniformity,  we  have  written 
m  the  plural  number,  although  the  facts  state.!  and  the  infer- 
mation  collec-ted  were  obtained  at  different  times  by  the  authors 
m  their  individnal  capacities. 

Without  entering  into  details  of  the  labours  of  each  in  this 
undertaking,  it  will  be  sufficient  to  add  that  the  history  of  the 
habits  of  our  quadrupeds  was  obtained  by  both  authors,  either 
from  personal  observation  or  through  the  kindness  oi  friends 
of  science,  on  whose  statements  Ml  reliance  could  be  placed 

For  the  designation  of  species,  and  the  letterpress  of  the 
present  volume,  the  junior  author  is  principally  responsiHe 

I^   our  Illustrations,   we   have    endeavoured   (we   hope  not 
without  success)  to  place  before  our  patrons  a  series  of  plates 
which  are  not  only  scientifically  correct,  but  interesting  to  all' 
from  the  varied  occupations,  expressions,  and  attitudes  we  have' 
g.ven    to   the   different   species,   together  with   the   appropriate 
acce^ories,   such   as  trees,  plants,  landscapes,  *c.,  with    which 
he  figures  of  the  animals   are   relieved;   and  we  have  =ou.ht 
to  descnbe   those    represented    in  the  first  fifty  plates,   so 'as 
not  only  to  clear  away  the  obscurity  which  had  gathered  over 
aome   speces,  but   to   make  our  readers   acquainted  with  their 
habits,  geographical  distribuHon,  and  all  th.at  we   could   ascer 
tain    of  interest   about   them,   and   the   mode   of  huntin.  or 
destroying  such  as  are  pursued  either  to  gratify  the  appetit;  to 
hirnish  a  rich  fur  or  skin,  or  in  order  to  get  rid  of  dangerous 
or  annoying  neighboniu 

of7TT"'  "'""*'"'■ "' ""  ™"*'"-°''^  ^f '"« Q'-'™p«ds 

of  North  America  is  now  neariy  ready  for  our  subscribers,  and 
we  hope  to  conclude  this  portion  of  the  work  without  much 
irwgulanty  or  delay  in  the  appearance  of  the  remaining  plates 


t 


xu 


INTRODUCTION. 


Our  sincere  thanks  are  respectfully  offered  to  our  patrons  for 
their  liberal  and  generous  encouragement  of  this  undertaking, 
and  we  beg  to  assure  them  we  shall  ever  entertain  a  lively 
sense  of  the  interest  they  have  taken  in  the  work,  and  the 
substantial  support  vouchsafed  us.  A  list  of  subscribers  will 
be  found  appended  to  this  volume,  and  farther  subscriptions 
will  be  acknowledged  in  our  next. 

Some  of  the  drawings  have  been  executed  by  J.  W.  Au- 
dubon, under  our  direction,  and  he  is  now  engaged  in  Europe 
in  making  figures  of  those  arctic  animals  of  which  accessible 
specimens  exist  only  in  the  museums  of  that  quarter  of  the  globe. 
Many  of  the  backgrounds  were  painted  by  V.  G.  Audubon. 

Of  the  manner  in  which  the  various  artists  engaged  upon 
the  illustrations,  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  J.  T.  Bowen,  have 
done  their  part,  our  subscribers  are  able  to  judge  "or  them- 
selves :  we  feel  desirous,  however,  to  say  that,  to  our  mind, 
the  work  has  been  executed  in  a  beautiful  style,  and  we  wish 
publicly  to  express  our  thanks  to  Mr.  Bowen,  to  Mr.  Trijibly, 
Mr.  Hitchcock,  and  the  other  artists  who  transferred  the 
original  drawings  to  the  stone,  and  to  Mr.  Bisbaugh,  whose 
impressions  from  their  plates  merit  our  praise.  To  all  the  other 
artists  employed  by  us,  we  also  owe  our  acknowledgments  for 
their  valual)le  assistance. 

Of  the  style  in  which  the  letter-press  is  printed,  we  need 
only  say,  it  was  done  at  the  establishment  of  Mr.  Henry 
LuDWiG,  of  this  city,  and  that  it  has  given  us  satisfaction. 

Nkw-York,  November,  1846. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


Lynx  Rufus,    .     . 
Arctomys  Monax, 


Lepus  Townsendii,  . 
Neotoma  Floridana, 
Sciurus  Uicbardsonii, 
Vulpes  Fulvus  (var.  Decussat 
Sciiinis  Caroliiiensis, 
Tamias  Lysteri,  .  . 
Spermophilus  Parryi, 


Scalops  Aquaticus, 
Lepus  Americaims, 
Fiber  Zibethicus, 
Sciurus  Hudsonius, 


Pteromys  Oregonensis, 
Lynx  Canadensis, 
Sciurus  Cinereus, 
Lepus  Palustris,    .     . 
Sciurus  Moir.pilosus, 
Tamias  Townsendii, 
Vulpes  Virginianus, 
Lepus  Syivaticus, 
Mus  Rattus,     .     .     . 
Tamias  Quadrivittatus, 
Sciurus  Lanugitiosus, 
Gulo  Luscus,   .     .     . 
Sciurus  Liinigcrus,    . 
Pteromys  Volucella, 
Neotoma  Dnimmondii, 
Sigmodon  Hispidum, 


us), 


Common  American  Wild  Cat. —  Bai/  Lynx,  a 
Wood-Chuck.  —  Maryhnid     Marmot.  — 

Grovnd-Hog, 16 

Townseud's  Rocky  Mountain  Hare,  ...  25 

Florida  Rat, 32 

Richardson's  Columbian  Squirrel,    ...  41 

American  Cross  Fox, 46 

Carolina  Gray  Squirrel, 56 

Chippiny  Squirrel. — Hackee,  dc.,     ...  65 
Pann/s  Marmot  Squirrel. — Parry's  Sper- 

mophile, 77 

Common  Anurican  Shrew-Mole 81 

Northern  Ha,re, 93 

Musk-Rat. — Musquash, 108 

Hidson's  Bay  Squirrel. —  Chickaree. — Red 

Squirrel 125 

Oreyon  Flying  Squirrel, 132 

Canada  Lynx, jgg 

Cat  Squirrel, 145 

Marsh-Hare, 151 

Soft-haired  Squirrel. 157 

Townsend's  Ground  Squirrel,       ....  159 

Gray  Fo.r iq^ 

Gray  Rabbit, 173 

Black  Rat, jgg 

Four-striped  Ground-Squirrel,      ....  195 

Downy  Squirrel,        199 

Wolverene,  or  Glutton, 202 

Woolly  Squirrel, 214 

Common  Flying  Squirrel, 2I6 

Rocky  Mountain  Neotoma, 223 

Cotton  Rat, 228 


t 


XIV 


TABLE   OF   CONTENTS. 


Dycotylcs  Torquatus, 
Lopus  Glacialis,  .  . 
Putorius  Vison,  .  . 
Sciurus  Niger,  .  , 
Sciuriis  Migratorius, 


Hystrix  Dorsata,       .     . 
Lepu8  Aquaticus,      .     ,     , 
Sciurus  Ferruginiventris,    , 
fjp^rmophi'iis  Tridecemlineatus, 
Alus  Leucopus,     .     .     ,    , 
Mustela  Canadensis,       .     . 
Mepliitis  Ciiinga,       .     .     . 
Sciurus  Leporinus,    .     .     . 
Pscudostonia  Bursarius, 
Arvicola  Pennsylvanica,     . 
Castor  Fiber  (var.  Amerieanua) 
Melos  Labradoria,     .     .     . 
Sciurus  Douglassii,    .     .     . 
Spermophilus  Douglassii,  , 
lipermopliilus  Ricliardsonii, 


Page 

Collared  Peecari/, 23'J 

Polar  Hare, 212 

■^'n*. 260 

.Black  Squirrel,     ...          261 

Mifjratory  Gray  Sqmrnt.  -   A  orthern  Gray 

Squirrel, 205 

Canada  Porcupine, 277 

StBam2)-Hare, 287 

Red-bellied  Squirrel, 292 

Leopard  Spermophile, 2BI 

American  WiJte-footed  Mouse,      ....  300 

Pennant's  Marten,  or  Fisher, 307 

Common  American  Skunk, 317 

Hare-Squirrel, 329 

Canada  Pouched  Rat, 332 

Wilson's  Meadow  Mouse, 341 

American  Beaver,       ...          ....  347 

American  Badyer, 3(59 

Douylass'  Squirrel, 379 

Douglass'  Spermophile,        373 

Richardson's  Spermophile, 377 


TABLE  OF  GENERA  DESCRIBED  IN  THIS  VOLUME. 


Genus  Lynx, 


Arctoniys, 

Lepus, 

Neotoma, 

Sciurus,     . 

Vulpes, 

Tamias, 

Spermophilua, 

Scalops,     , 

Fiber, 

Pteroinys, 

Mus, 


Sigmodon, 

Dycotyles, 

I'utorius, 

Ilystrix, 

Miistcla, 

Mepliitis, 

Pseudostoma, 

Arvieola, 

Ciistor, 

Melcs, 


Pago 
1 

10 

25 
3  J 
38 
44 
64 
76 
81 
107 
132 
189 
202 
227 
233 
200 
277 
307 
310 
332 
340 
347 
360 


t 


QUADRUPEDS  OF  NORTH  AMERICA. 


GENUS      LYNX. 


DENTAL    FORMULA. 


Incisive  -;  Canine  —-;  Cheek-Teeth  —  :=  28. 

0  1 — 1  3_3 


The  teeth  in  animals  of  this  genus,  with  the  exception  of  there  being  one 
less  on  each  side,  in  the  upper  jaw,  do  not  differ  from  the  dental  arrange- 
ment of  the  genus  Felis.  The  canine  are  very  strong,  there  are  but  three 
molars  on  each  side,  above :  The  small  false-molar,  next  to  the  canine, 
which  exists  in  the  larger  species  of  long-tailed  cats,  such  as  the  lion,  tiger, 
panther,  cougar,  &c.,  as  well  as  in  the  domestic  or  common  cat,  is  wanting 
in  the  lynxes.  There  is  one  false-molar,  or  conical  tootfi  on  each  side- 
one  carnivorous,  with  three  lobes  and  a  tubercle  or  blunted  heel,  on  the 
inner.  The  third  cheelc-tooth  is  rather  small,  and  is  placed  transversely. 
In  the  lower  jaw  there  are  on  each  side,  two  false,  compressed,  simple 
molars,  and  one  canine,  which  is  bicusped. 

The  head  is  short,  round,  and  arched  ;  jaws  short ;  tongue  aculeated ; 
ears  short,  erect,  more  or  less  tufted. 

Fore-feet  with  five  toes,  hind-feet  with  only  four ;  nails  retractile.  Tail 
shorter  than  the  head,  although  nearly  as  long,  in  a  few  instances. 

The  species  heretofore  classed  in  the  genus  Feus  have  been  so  multi- 
plied by  the  discoveries  of  late  years  in  various  parts  of  the  world,  that 
they  have  for  some  time  demanded  a  careful  examination,  and  the  sepa- 
ration  of  such  as  present  characters  essentially  different  from  the  types 
of  that  genus,  into  other  genera. 

Some  of  the  distinctive  marks  by  which  the  genus  Lynx   is  separateJ 
J 


•nfl"*" 


t 


2 


COMMON  AMERICAN  W1l,D  CAT. 


fcom  the  old  genus  Fei.is,  are  tlie  tufted  ears  and  shorter  bodies  and  tails  of 
the  lynxes,  as  well  ns  the  slij^ht  diflcrcnce  above  mentioned  in  the  dental 
arrangement  of  the  two  genera.  In  a  note  in  the  American  Monthly  Ma 
gazine,  vol.  i.,  p.  137,  R.\i'iNEsauE,  in  a  f<  w  lines,  proposed  the  genus  Lynx, 
but  gave  no  detailed  characters,  although  he  states  that  he  had  increased 
the  species  of  this  genus  from  four  tj  fifteen  !  in  which  supposition,  alas 
ho  ^   IjJ  sadly  mistaken. 

Dr.  DiiKAY,  in  the  "  Natural  History  of  New- York,"  a  work  puDhshed 
By  Authority  "  of  the  State,  has  adopted  the  genus  Lvncus,  as  established 
by  Gray. 

We  have  not  seen  the  work  in  which  Mr.  Gray  proposed  this  generic 
name,  and  are  consequently  unable  to  ascertain  on  what  characters  it  was 
founded,  and  we  prefer  the  more  classical  name  of  Lynx.  The  name 
Lynx  was  formerly  applied  to  one  of  the  species  of  this  genus.  It  is  de- 
'•ived  from  the  Greek  work  At/yf  (liigx),  a  Lynx.  Eight  species  of  Lynx 
iiave  been  described  ;  one  l)eing  found  in  Africa,  two  in  Persia,  one  in 
Arabia,  two  in  Europe,  and  two  in  North  America. 


LYNX       11  UFUS.  — GULDENSTAED. 

Common  American  Wild  Cat. — Bay  Lynx. 
PLATE  1.— Male. 

L.  Cauda  capite  paullo  breviore,  ad  exiremum  supra  nigra,  apice  sub- 
albida ;  auribus  pagina  posteriore  maculo  sub  albido  nigro  marginato  dis- 
tinctis;  hyeme  et  auctuinno  rufo-fuscus;  vere  et  JEState  cinereo-fuscus. 

CHARACTERS. 

Tail  nearly  as  hug  as  the  head,  exlremitij  on  the  upper  surface  blacky 
lipped  with  more  or  less  ichile ;  a  whitish  spot  on  the  hinder  part  of  the  ear 
lordered  with  black ;  general  colour  reddish-brown  in  autumn  and  winter, 
■ishy  brown  in  spring  and  summer ;  soles  naked. 


8YN0NYMES. 

Bay  Lysx,  Pennant,  Hist.  Quadr.,  No.  171.     Arctic  Zool,,  vol.  1.,  p.  51. 

Felis  RtFA,  Guld.  in  Xov.  Comm.     Petross.  jx.,  p.  499. 

Felis  Rufa,  Temm.,  Monoif.,  &c.,  vol.  1.,  p.  141. 

Lynx  Fasciatus,  Ilafin.  in  Amer.  Month.  Mag.,  1817,  p,  48. 

LvNX  MoNTANus,  Idem,  Ibid.,  pp.  46,  2. 


COMMON  AMERICAN  WILD  CAT.  a 

LvNX  F1.0RIDANUS,  Idem,  Ibid.,  pp.  4,  64. 

Lv.vx  AiHEus,  Idem,  Ibid.,  pp.  4(i,  0. 

Felis  Cahoi.inknsih,  De.sm.,  Mamm.,  p.  231, 

FfiLis  RuFA,  Oodin.,  Amer.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  iii.,  p.  239 ;  Fig.  m  vol.  I. 

DESCRIPTION. 

In  size  and  form,  tliis  spccie.s  bear.s  some  resemblance  to  sma.i  speci 
mens  of  ihn  female  Canada  Lynx,  {Lynx  Canndums,)  the  larger  lee   anu 

more  tufted  ears  of  the  latter,  however,  as  well  as  its  grayer  cole  1 '\\ 

enable  even  an  unpractised  observer  at  a  glance  to  distinguish  the  di..  , 
enre  between  the  two  specie.i. 

Head  of  moderate  size,  rounded  ;  body  rather  slender  ;  legs  long  ;  soles 
of  feet  naked;  hind-feet  webbed  to  wifhiu  five-eighths  of  an  inch  of  the 
claws;  ears  large,  nearly  triangular,  erect,  tipped  with  coarse  hairs  haK 
an  mch  long,  wliieh  drop  out  in  summer  ;  the  inner  surface  thinly  sprinkled 
with  loose  hairs,  outer,  thickly  covered  with  short  fur. 

A  ruff  of  elongated  hairs  surrounding  the  th.oat,  more  prominent  in  the 
male  than  female :  tail  short,  slender,  and  slightly  turned  upwards, 
mammae  eight ;  f.mr  pectoral  and  four  abdominal. 

COLOUR. 

The  hind-head  and  back,  yellowi.sh-brown,  with  a  dorsal  line  more  or 
less  di.stinct,ofdark-brown,  running  from  the  shoulder  to  near  the  inser- 
tion of  the  tail.  A  few  irregular  longitudinal  .stripes  on  the  back  of  the 
same  colour.  The  sides  spotted  with  dark-brown,  these  spots  being  more 
Li^linct  and  in  closer  approximation  in  some  specimens  than  in  others 

Forehead  obscurely  striped  with  dark-brown.  Over  and  beneath' the 
eyes  yellowish-white;  whiskers  nearly  all  white.  Ears,  outer  surface 
a  triangular  spot  of  dull  white,  dilated  towards  the  outer  margin,  bordered' 
wih  brownish-black;  inner  surl-tce  yellowish  white.  Under  surface  of 
body  yel  owish  white  spotted  with  black;  tail,  above,  barred  with  rufous 
and  black  towards  the  extremity  a  broad  band  of  black,  tipped  at  the 
point  and  particularly  in  the  centre  with  white ;  under  surface  of  tail 
I.ui.t-gray,  interspersed  with  small  and  irregular  patches  of  black  hairs' 

Foie-leet  on  the  upper  surfece,  broadly,  and  towards  the  toes  minutely' 
spotted  wi  h  black  on  a  light  yellowish-brown  ground  ;  inner  surface  du  i 
white,  with  two  broad  and  several  narrow  bars  of  black  ;  paws  beneath 
-Hi  ha„.  between  the  sole.s,  dark-brown.  Ili.d-legs  barrell  and  spotted 
similarly  to  the  fore-legs.  Chin  and  throat  dull  white,  with  two  black 
mes,  comnieucing  0.1  a  point  on  a  line  with  the  articulation  of  the 
'..werjaw,  where  they  form  an  acute  angle,  and  thence  diverge  to  the 


)C 


COMMON  AMlilliCAN  WILD  CAT 


sides  of  the  npfk,  mid  unite  with  the  ruft',  which  is  black,  mixed  with  yoK 
lowisli-l)rown  iiiid  firay  hairs. 

Tlie  Ictnaic  is  coiisiderabiy  smaller  than  the  male,  her  body  more  slen- 
der, and  her  movements  have  a  stronjier  resemblance,  in  their  lightness 
and  at,'ility,  to  those  of  the  common  house-cat;  the  markings  appear  more 
distinct,  and  the  rounded  black  spots  on  the  back  and  sides,  smaller  and 
more  numerous.  Then;  is  in  this  species  a  considerable  diversity  in 
colour,  as  well  as  in  size.  In  spring  and  early  summtT,  before  it  has  shed 
Us  winter  coat,  it  is  uniformly  more  rufous,  and  the  black  markings  arp 
less  distinct,  than  after  shedding  its  hair,  and  before  the  new  hair  is  elon- 
gated  i"  p.utunin  to  form  the  winter  cjil. 

Our  specimens  obtain»'d  in  summer  and  autumn,  are  of  a  light  gray 
colour,  with  scarcely  any  nuxture  of  rufous,  and  all  the  black  markings 
are  brighter  and  far  more  distinct  than  they  are  in  those  killed  in  the  win- 
ter or  spring  months. 

'J'luTc  are,  however,  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  even  in  the  same  neigh- 
bourhood, strongly-marked  varieties,  and  it  is  difficult  to  find  two  indivi- 
duals precisely  alike. 

Some  specimens  are  broadly  marked  with  fulvous  under  the  throut, 
whilst  in  others  the  throat  as  well  as  the  chin  are  gray.  In  some  the 
stripes  on  the  back  and  spots  along  the  sides  are  very  distinctly  seen, 
whilst  in  others  they  are  scarcely  visible,  and  tL„  animal  is  grayish-brown 
above  with  a  dark  dorsal  stripe.  A  specimen  from  the  mountains  of 
Tennsylvania  presents  this  appearance  strikingly,  and  is  withal  nearly 
destitute  of  the  triangular  marking  under  the  throat,  so  that  wc  hesitated 
for  some  time  in  referring  it  to  this  species,  A  specimen  from  Louisiana 
is  of  the  same  uniform  colour  above,  but  with  more  distinct  linear  mark- 
ings on  the  face,  and  with  coarse  hair,  not  more  than  half  the  length  of  that 
of  individuals  from  the  Northern  States.  We  obtained  a  specimen  in 
Carolina,  w  hich  in  nearly  every  particular  answers  to  the  description  oi 
FtUs  CaroUncnsis  of  De.^mauest.  If  the  various  supposed  new  species  of 
Wild  Cat  described  by  Rafinesuue,  Harlan,  Desmarest,  &c.,  are  entitled 
to  a  place  in  our  Fauna,  on  account  of  some  peculiarity  of  colour,  we  have 
it  in  our  power,  from  specimens  before  us,  to  increase  the  number  to  a 
considerable  extent ;  l>ut  in  doing  so  we  think  we  should  only  swell  the 
list  of  synonymes,  and  add  to  the  confusion  which  already  prevails  in  re 
gard  to  some  of  the  species  belonging  to  this  genus. 


UIMENSIONS. 

Adult  Male. — [Finr  Specimen.] 

From  point  of  nose  to  lOot  of  tail 
Tail  (vertebra)  ... 


30  inches. 
5    do. 


COMMON  AMEHICAN  WILD  CAT. 

Tail,  to  ct'.d  of  hair       -        -        ►        .        . 
From  nose  to  end  of  skull     .... 
From  nose,  following  the  cuna'ure  of  the  head 
Tufts  on  the  cars  ..... 

Breadth  of  oar      ----.. 
Anterior  longth  of  ear  .        .        ..        . 

Length  of  neck  ..... 

Weight  nlhs. 


5 


5i 

inchoy, 

-           4i 

do. 

0 

do. 

1 

I 

do. 

U 

do. 

If 

do. 

4 

do 

HABITS. 

The  general  appearanee  of  this  species  conveys  the  idea  of  a  degree  ol 
ferocity,  which  cannot  with  propriety  be  considered  as  belonging  to  itu 
character,  although  it  will,  when  at  bay,  siiow  its  sharp  teeth,  and  with 
outstretched  claws  and  iiiliirialed  despair,  repel  the  attacks  of  either  man 
or  dgg,  sputtering  the  while,  and  roiling  its  eyes  like  the  common  cat. 

It  is,  however,  generally   cowardly  when   attacked,  and  always  flies 
from  its  pursuers,  if  it  can ;  and  although  some  anecdotes  have  been  re- 
lated to  us  of  the  strength,  daring,  and  fierceness  of  this  animal,  such  as 
it'  having  been  known  to  ki)'  i.t  different  times  a  sheep,  a  full-grown  doe, 
attack  a  child  in  the  woods,  &c. ;  yet  in  all  the  instances  that  have  come 
under  our  ovvrn  notice,  we  have  found  it  veiy  timid,  and  always  rather 
inclined  to  be.it  a  retreat,  than  to  make  an  attack  on  any  animal  larger 
than  a  hare  or  a  young  pig.     In  the  American  Turf  Register,  there  is  an 
interesting  extract  of  a  letter  from  Dr.  Coleman,  U.  S.  A.,  written  at  Fort 
Armstrong,  Prairie  du  Chien,  giving  an  account  of  a  contest  between  an 
eagle  and  a.  Wild  Cat.     After  a  fierce  struggle,  in  which  the  eagle  was 
so  badly  wounded  as  to  be  unable  to  fly,  the  Cat,  scratched  and  pierced  in 
many  places,  and  having  had  one  eye  entirely  "  gouged  out "  in  the  com- 
bat, was  found  lying  dead. 

In  hunting  at  night  for  racoons  and  opossums,  in  which  sport  the  negroes 
on  the  plantations  of  Carolina  take  great  delight,  a  Cat  is  occasionally 
"freed"  by  the  dogs  ;  and  the  negroes,  who  seldom  carry  a  gun,  climl)  up 
the  tree  and  shake  him  off  as  they  would  do  a  racoon,  and  although  he 
fights  desperately,  he  is  generally  killed  by  the  dogs.  During  a  botanical 
excursion  through  the  swamps  of  the  Edisto  river,  our  attention  was  at- 
tracted by  the  barking  of  a  small  terrier  at  the  foot  of  a  sapling,  (young 
tree.)  On  looking  up,  we  observed  a  Wild  Cat,  about  twenty  feet  from 
the  ground,  of  at  least  three  times  the  size  of  the  dog,  which  he  did  not 
appear  to  be  much  afraid  of.  He  seemed  to  have  a  greater  dread  of 
man,  however,  than  of  this  diminutive  specimen  of  the  canine  race,  and 
leaped  from  the  tree  as  we  drew  near. 


t 


6  COMMON  AMERICAN  WILD  CAT. 

The  Wild  Cat  pursues  his  prey  with  both  activity  and  cunning,  sometimes 
boundiiij?  suddenly  upon  the  olyect  of  his  rapacity,  somctim  s  with  stealthy 
pace,  approaching  it  vr.  the  darkness  of  nijjjlit,  spizin<r  it  with  his  strong  re- 
tractile claws  and  sharp  teeth,  and  bearing  it  oil"  to  his  retreat  in  the  forest. 

The  individual  from  wiucli  our  figure  was  drawn  had  been  caught  in  a 
steel-trap,  and  was  brought  to  us  alive.  We  kept  it  for  several  weeks; 
it  was  a  fine  male,  although  not  the  largest  we  have  seen.  Like  most  of 
the  predacious  animals,  it  grew  fat  in  confinement,  being  regularly  fed 
on  the  refuse  parts  of  chickens  and  raw  meat,  as  well  as  on  the  common 
brown  rat.  * 

The  Bay  Lynx  (as  this  animal  is  sometimes  called)  is  fond  of  swampy, 
retired  situations,  as  well  as  the  wooded  sides  of  hills,  and  is  still  seen  oc- 
casionally in  tliat  portion  of  the  YVlleghany  mountains  which  traverses 
the  States  of  Pennsylvania  and  New-York.  It  is  abundant  in  the  Cane- 
brakes  (patches  or  thickets  of  the  Miegia  Macrosperma,  of  INIioiiaux,  which 
often  extend  for  miles,  and  are  almost  impassable)  bordering  the  lakes, 
rivers,  and  lagoons  of  Carolina,  Louisiana,  and  other  Southern  and  South 
Western  States.  This  species  also  inhabits  the  mountains  and  tlie  undu- 
lating or  roUhig  country  of  the  Southern  States,  and  frequents  the  thickets 
that  generally  spring  up  on  deserted  cotton  plantations,  some  of  which  are 
two  or  three  miles  long,  and  perhaps  a  mile  wide,  and  afford,  from  the 
quantity  of  l)riars,  shrubs,  ;i(l  young  trees  of  various  kinds  which  hav? 
overgrown  them,  excellent  cover  lor  many  quadrupeds  and  birds.  In  these 
bramble-covered  old  fields,  the  "  Cats  "  feed  chiefly  on  the  rabbits  and  rats 
that  make  their  homes  in  their  almost  impenetrable  and  tangled  recesses; 
and  seldom  does  the  cautious  V*'il(l  Cat  voluntarily  leave  so  comfortable 
and  secure  a  lurking  place,  except  in  the  breeding  season,  or  to  Ibllow  in 
very  sultry  weatl>er,  the  dry  beds  of  streams  or  brooks,  to  jiick  up  the  cat- 
fish, &c.,  or  cray-fish  and  frogs  that  remain  in  the  deep  holes  of  the 
creeks,  during  the  drought  of  summer. 

The  Wild  Cat  not  only  makes  great  havoc  among  the  chickens,  turkeys, 
and  ducks  of  the  planter,  but  destroys  many  of  the  smaller  quadrupeds, 
as  well  as  partridges,  and  such  other  birds  as  he  can  surprise  roosting  on 
the  ground.  The  hunters  often  run  down  the  Wild  Cat  with  packs  ot 
fox-hounds.  When  hard  presstid  by  fast  dogs,  and  in  an  open  country, 
he  ascends  a  tree  with  the  agility  of  a  squirrel,  but  the  baying  of  the  dogs 
calling  his  pursui-rs  to  the  spot,  the  unerring  rifle  brings  him  to  the 
ground,  when,  if  not  mortally  wounded,  he  fights  fiercely  with  the 
pack  until  killed.  He  will,  however,  when  |)ursued  by  himters  with 
hourds,  frequently  eludes  both  dogs  and  huntsmen,  by  an  exercise  of  in- 
stinct, so  closely  bordering  on   i(  ason,  that  we  are  bewildered   in  the  at* 


COMMON  AMEllJUAN  WILD  CAT. 

tempt  to  separate  it  from  the  latter      No  sooner  does  he  beeome  avvaro 
that  the  enemy  is  on  his  track,  than,   nstead  of  taking  a  straight  eourso 
for  the  deepest  forest,  he  speeds  to  on«  of  the  largest  old-fields  over-ro^vn 
with    briery  thiekets,   in   the   neighbourhood ;    and    having   reached  this 
tangled  maze,  he  runs  in  a  variety  of  circles,  crossing  and  re-crossing  his 
path  many  tin,es,  and  when  he  thinks  the  scent  has  been  diffused  sufli- 
oiently  m  ditferent  directions  by  this  mana3uvre,  to  puzzle  both  men  and 
dogs,  he  creeps  slyly  forth,  and  makes  for  the  woods,  or  for  some  well 
known  swamp,  and  if  he  should  be  lucky  enough  to  find  a  half-dried-un 
pon     or  a  part  of  the  swamp,  on  which  the  clayey  bottom  is  moist  anij 
stickj,  he   seems  to  know  that  the  adhesive  soil,  covering  his  feet  and 
legs,  so  lar  destroys  the  scent,  that  although  the  hounds  maybe  in  full 
cry  on  reachu.g  such  a  place,  and  while  crossing  it,  they  will  lose  the 

::i"iiti:r""^'^"  -"-  -^  --  ?  -^^-  --^ 

of^w";^""::  '"  ""^^"^^^^^  ^l--'l  t>y  tl-  dogs,  gains  some  tract 
of  bu,  at  .ood,  common  especially  in  the  pine  lands  of  Carolina,  where 
fallen  and  up.ght  trees  are  alike  blackened  and  scorched,  by  he  fire 
ha  has  run  among  them  burning  before  it  every  blade  of  gis  ev  ry 
eaf  an.l  shrub,  and  destroying  many  of  the  largest  trees  in  its  furl's 
course;  and  here,  the  charcoal  and  ashes  on  the  ground    after  ZT 

tlie  trunk  ,,1  a  (Men  tree,  that  has  bee,  charred  in  the  eornlLali,.™ 
«-.n  genera,,,  pn.  any  hound,  a,  fault.  Shonid  no  such  clnoe  XaS 
^e  v„h,„  h„  reach,  he  doe,  no.  despair,  but  exerting  his  powe^  of  flS 

feet  distant,  as  he  c.n  [-''Z..'<''  <"  I"K'>  "P  iato  a  tree  some 

-  c,ose,;,ua..e::;tri  t;:::,::,.'*:,:-'  "rr 


t 


'^  J; 


6 


COMMOiN  AMERICAN  WILD  CAT. 


!n  some  parts  of  Carolina,  Georgia,  Mississippi,  and  Louisiana,  the 
Wild  Cat  has  at  times  become  so  great  a  nuisance  as  to  have  aroused  the 
spirit  of  vengeance  in  the  hearts  of  the  planters,  who  are  constant  suf- 
ferers from  his  depredations.  They  have  learned  by  experience,  that  one 
Cat  will  do  as  much  mischief  among  the  pigs  and  poultry  as  a  dozen 
gray  foxes.  They  are  now  determined  to  allow  their  hounds,  which 
they  had  hitherto  kept  solely  for  the  favourite  amusement  of  deer  hunting, 
and  which  had  always  been  whipped-in  from  the  trail  of  the  Wild  Cat,  to 
pursue  him,  through  thicket,  briar  patch,  marsh,  and  morass,  until  he  is 
caught  or  killed. 

Arrangements  for  the  Cat-hunt  are  made  over  night.  Two  oi  three 
neighbours  form  the  party,  each  one  bringing  with  him  all  the  hounds  he 
can  muster.  We  have  seen  thirty  of  the  latter  brought  together  on  such 
occasions,  some  of  which  were  not  inferior  to  the  best  we  have  examined 
in  England,  mdeed,  great  numbers  of  the  finest  fox-hounds  are  annually 
imported  into  Carolina. 

At  the  earliest  dnwn,  the  party  is  summoned  to  the  spot  previously 
fixed  on  as  the  place  of  meeting.  A  horn  is  sounded,  not  low  and  with 
a  single  blast,  as  is  usual  in  hunting  the  deer,  lest  the  timid  animal  should 
be  startled  IVom  its  bed  among  the  broom-grass  {Andropagon  (li.ssitiforu.i) 
and  bound  away  out  of  the  drive,  beyond  the  reach  of  the  hunter's 
double-barrel  loaded  with  buckshot ;  but  with  a  loud,  long,  and  oft- 
repeated  blast,  wakening  the  echoes  that  rise  from  the  rice-fields  and 
marshes,  and  are  reverberated  from  shore  to  shore  of  the  winding 
sluggish  river,  until  lost  among  the  fogs  and  shadows  of  the  distant 
forest. 

An  answering  horn  is  heard  half  a  mile  off",  and  anon  comes  another 
response  from  a  diderent  quarter.  The  party  is  soon  collected,  they 
are  mounted,  not  on  the  lleetest  and  best-blooded  horses,  but  on  the 
most  sure-footed,  (sometimes  called  "Old  field  Tackles,"^  which  know 
how  to  avoid  the  stump-holes  on  the  burnt  grounds  o^  i<>  pine  lands, 
which  stand  the  fire  of  the  gun,  and  which  can  not  only  go  with 
tolerable  speed,  but  are,  to  use  a  common  expression,  "  tough  as  a  pine 
knot."  The  hunters  greet  each  other  in  the  open-heartod  manner  char- 
acteristic of  the  Southern  planter.  Each  pack  of  dogs  is  under  the 
guidance  of  a  coloured  driver,  whose  business  it  is  to  control  the  hounds 
and  encourage  and  aid  them  in  the  hunt.  TIk;  drivers  ride  in  most  (vises 
the  ilcetest  horses  on  the  ground,  in  ord(>r  to  be  able,  whilst  on  a  deer 
hunt,  to  stop  the  dogs.  These  men,  who  are  so  important  to  the  succesfc 
of  the  chase,  are  possessed  (tf  a  good  deal  of  intelligence  and  shrewd- 
ness, are  usumIIv  much   iitted,  and  regarding  themselves  as  belonging  li 


COMMOIN  AMERICAN  WILD  CAT.  g 

the  aristocracy  of  the  plantation,  are  apt  to  look  down  upon  their  fellow- 
servants  as  inferiors,  and  consider  themselves  privileged  even  to  crack  a 
Joke  with  their  masters.     The  drivers  are  ordered  to  stop  the  dogs  if  a 
deer  should  be  started,  a  circumstance  which  often   occurs,  and  which 
has  saved  the  life  of  many  a  Cat,  whose  fate  five  minutes  before  this  un- 
lucky  occurrence  was  believed  to  be  sealed.     Orders  are  given  to  destroy 
the  Cat  fairly,  by  running  him  down  with  the  hounds,  or  if  this  cannot 
be  done,  then  by  shooting  him  if  he  ascends  a  tree  or  approaches  within 
gun  shot  of  the  stand  which  the  hunter  has  selected  as  the  most  likely 
place  for  him  to  pass  near.     The  day  is  most   auspicious— there  is  not  a 
breath  of  wind  to  rustle   the    falling  leaves,    nor  a   cloud   to   throw  its 
shadows  over  the  wide  joyous  landscape.     The  dew-drops  are  sparkling 
on  the  few  remaining  leavefi  of  the  persimmon  tree,  and  the  asters  and 
dog-fennel   hang   drooping .  beneath  their   load  of  moisture.      The   dogs 
are  gambolling  in  circles  around,  and  ever  and  anon,  in  spite  of  all  re- 
straint, the  joyous  note  breaks  forth— the  whole  pack  is  impatient  for  the 
chase,  and  the  young  dogs  are  almost  frantic  with  excitement. 

But  we  have  not  time  for  a  farther  description  of  the  scene— whilst  we  are 
musing  and  gazing,  the  word  is  given,  "Go!"  and  off  start  the  hounds, 
each  pack  following  its  own  driver  to  different  parts    ,f  the  old  fields    or 
along  the  borders  of  the  swamps  and  marshes.     Much  time,  labour  and 
patience  are  usually  required,  before  the  «Cat^'  can  be  found  by  the  dogs- 
sometimes  there  is  a  sudden  burst  from  one  or  the  otlier  of  the  packs 
awakening  expectation  in  the  minds  of  the  huntsmen,  but  the  driver   is 
no^,  to  be  so  easily  deceived,  as  he  has  some  dogs  that  never  open  at   a 
mbbit,  and  the  snap  of  the  whip  soon  silences  the  riotous  young  babblers 
Agani  there  is  a  wild  burst  and  an  exulting  shout,  giving  assurance  that 
better  game  than  a  rabbit  is  on  foot;  a.id  now  is  heard  a  distant  shot 
•succeeded  in  a  second  of  time  by  another,  and  lor  an  instant  all  is  still  • 
the  echoes  come  roaring  up  through  the  woods,  and  as  they  gradually 
subside,  the  crack  of  the  whip  is  again  heard  stopping  the  dogs.     The 
.story. s  soon  told:  a  deer  had  been  started-the  shot  was  too  small-or 
tlie  distance  too  great,  o,    any  other  excuses  (which  are  always  at  hand 
among  hunters  of   fertile    imagination)    are    made  by  the   unsuccessful 
sportsman  who  fired,  and  the  dogs  are  carried  back  to  the  "trail"  of  the 
Cat    that  has  been  growing  fresher  and  fresher  for  the  last  half  hour. 
At    cngth  "Trimbush,"  (and  a  good  dog  is  he,)  that  has  been  working 
"M  the  cold  trail  for  some  time,  begins  to  give  tongue,  in  a  way  that 
brings  the  other  dogs  to  his  aid.     The  drivers  now  a.lvance  to  each  other 
-.oouragin,    their    .logs;    the  trail    becomes  a   drag;  onward   it   goes 
""•<•""•'  ■''  •"■<«ul  marsh  at  .he  head  of  a  rico-lh-ld.     "He   will  soon   b. 


t 


10 


COMMON  AMKKICAN  WILD  CAT. 


started  now  ! "  "  lie  is  up  ! "  What  a  burst !  you  might  have  heard 
it  two  miles  olT — it  ^unics  in  mingled  sounds,  roaring  like  thunder 
from  the  muddy  marsh  and  irom  the  deep  swamp.  The  barred  owl, 
frightened  from  the  monotony  of  his  quiet  life  among  the  cj'press 
trees,  commences  hooting  in  mockery  as  it  were,  of  the  wide-mouthed 
hounds.  Here  they  come,  sweepijig  through  the  resounding  swamp  like 
an  equinoctial  storm — the  crackling  of  a  reed,  the  shaking  of  a  bush,  a 
glimpse  I )'■  some  object  that  glided  past  like  a  shadow,  is  succeeded  by 
the  whole  pack,  rattling  away  among  the  vines  and  i'allen  timbers,  and 
leaving  a  trail  in  the  mud  as  if  a  pack  of  wolves  in  pursuit  of  a  deer 
had  hnrried  by.  The  Cat  has  gone  past.  It  is  now  evident  that  he  will 
not  climb  a  tree.  It  is  almost  invariably  the  case,  that  where  he  can 
retreat  to  low  swampy  situations,  or  l)riar  patches,  he  will  not  take 
a  tree,  but  seeks  to  weary  the  dogs  by  making  short  windings  among  the 
almost  impassable  briar  patches.  He  has  nov/  been  twisting  and  turning 
half  a  dozen  times  in  a  thicket  covering  only  throe  or  four  acres — let 
us  go  in  !uid  take  our  stand  on  the  very  trail  where  he  last  passed,  and 
shoot  him  if  we  can.  A  shot  is  lieard  on  the  ojjposite  edge  of  the 
thicket,  and  again  all  is  still ;  but  once  more  the  pack  is  in  full  cry. 
Here  he  comes,  almost  brushing  our  legs  as  he  dashes  by  and  disappears 
ill  the  l)ushcs,  ])efore  we  can  get  sight  of  him  and  pull  trigger.  But  we 
see  tliat  the  dogs  arc  every  moment  pressing  him  closer,  that  the  ma- 
rauder is  showing  evidences  of  fatigue  and  is  nearly  "  done  up."  He  be- 
gins to  make  narrower  circles,  there  are  restless  flashes  in  his  eye,  his 
back  is  now  curved  upwards,  his  hair  is  bristled  nervously  forward,  his 
tongue  hangs  out — we  raise  our  gun  as  he  is  approaching,  and  scarcely 
ten  yards  off — a  loud  report — the  smoke  has  hardly  blown  aside,  ere  we 
see  him  lilclcss,  almost  at  our  very  feet — had  we  waited  three  minutes 
longer,  the  hounds  would  have  saved  us  the  powder  and  shot ! 

One  fine  morning  in  autumn,  when  we  had  crossed  the  Ohio  river  at 
Henderson,  in  Kentucky,  with  the  view  of  shooting  some  wild  turkeys, 
geese,  and  perhaps  a  deer,  we  chanced  to  seat  ourselves  about  fifty 
yards  from  a  prostrate  tree,  and  presently  saw  a  Wild  Cat  leap  on  to  it 
and  go  through  the  manccuvres  we  have  described  in  a  preceding  page. 
Ho  did  not  see  us,  and  had  scarcely  reached  one  of  the  higher  branches 
of  a  tall  white-oak,  after  springing  into  it  from  the  fallen  tree,  when  we 
heard  the;  dogs,  which  soon  came  up,  with  the  hunters  following  not  far 
behind.  Tht^y  asked,  when  they  perceived  us,  whether  we  had  seen  the 
"Cat"  that  had  given  them  the  slip.  Always  willing  to  assist  the  hunter 
who  has  lost  his  g.'iine,  and  having  no  piirticular  liking  towards  this 
species,  we  answered  in  the  aflirmalive,  and  sliowed  them  the  animal. 


COMMON  AMERICAN  WILD  CAT. 


11 


(If  tely  squatted  on  a  large  l)raiich  some  distance  from  thi  ground.  One 
of  the  party  immediately  put  his  rifle  to  his  shoulder  and  pulled  the 
trigger:  the  Cat  leiiped  from  (he  branch  into  the  air,  and  fell  to  the 
earth  quite  dead.  Whilst  residing  in  Louisiana  some  twenty  years 
since,  we  chanced  one  afternoon  to  surprise  one  of  these  depredators. 
He  had  secured  a  hare,  (commoidy  called  rabbit,)  and  was  so  eagerly 
engaged  in  satisfying  his  hunger  as  not  to  observe  uh,  until  we  were 
near  the  spot  where  he  was  partially  concealed  behind  a  rotten 
i<)g  At  sight  of  us,  he  squatted  flat  on  the  ground.  As  we  looked  at 
him,  we  heard  a  stjuirrel  close  by,  and  turned  our  head  for  an  instant, 
but  scarce  had  we  glanced  at  the  S(iuirrel,  when  looking  again  for  the 
Wild-Cat,  he  had  disapjjeared.  carrying  the  remains  of  the  hare  away 
with  him. 

About  twenty  miles  from  Charleston,  South-Cnrolina,  resides  a  worthy 
friend  of  ours,  a  -.^ntieman  w^ll  known  for  his  skill  in  the  sports  of  the 
field,  his  hospitality  to  both  friends  and  strangers,  and  the  excellent  man- 
ner in  which  his  plantation  is  managed.  The  plantation  of  Dr.  Desel  is 
in  short,  ihe  v.-ry  ,,lace  lor  one  who  likes  the  sight  of  several  fine  bucks 
hanging  on  the  branches  of  an  old  Pecan-nut  tree;  while  turkeys 
geese,  and  poultry  of  other  kinds,  are  seen  in  abundance  in  his  well 
stocked  poultry  yards,  aflbrding  eerlainty  of  good  cheer  to  his  visitors 

The  Doctor's  g.-cse  were  nightly  lodged  near  the  house,  in  an  enclo- 
suro  which  was  rendered  apj)Mren(ly  safe,  by  a  very  high  fence.  As  an 
adcbtional  security,  several  watch  dogs  were  let  loose  about  the  premises: 
besides  an  excellent  pack  of  hounds,  ^^hich  by  an  occasional  bark  or 
howl  during  the  night,  sounded  a  note  of  w^arning  or  alarm  in  case  any 
marauder,  whether  biped  or  rpiadruped,  approached. 

Notwithstanding  these  precautions,  a  goose  disappeared  almost  every 
night,  aiKl  no  trace  of  the  ingress  or  egress  of  the  robber  could  be  dis- 
covered  Slow  in  attaching  suspicion  to  his  servants,  the  Dr.  waited  lor 
t.mo  and  watchfulness  to  solve  the  mystery.  At  length,  the  feathers 
and  other  remains  of  his  geese,  were  discovered  in   a   marsh   about  a 

r'''w-,  ."r  '■;  '"'':;,"••'"' "'^'  ^'--'  -"'  ^^-"^  suspicions  were  fastened  on 
the  Wild-Cat ;  still,  as  he  came  at  odd  hours  of  the  night,  all  attempts  to 
catch  or  shoot  him  proved  for  a  time  unavailing. 

One  morning  however,  he  came  about  dny-light,  and  having  cap- 
Mn-od  a  good  lat  .^oose,  was  traced  by  the  keen  noses  of  the  hounds. 
The  chnse  xvas  kept  up  for  some  time  through  the  devious  windings  of 
"<■  <  ;'<-I«.|s,  wh,-n  his  career  of  mischief  was  brought  to  a  close  by  a 
shot  Irom  the  gun  of  our  friend  the  Doctor,  who,  in  self-defence,  beerime 
Ins  ,.xeculioner.     Thus  ended  his  career.     In  this  respect  he  tared  worse 


^ 


12 


COMMON  AMERICAN  WILD  CAT. 


than  he  deserved,  compared  with  those  beings  of  a  superior  nature,  who 
not  understanding  that  "Honestly  is  the  best  policy,''  outdo  our  Wild-Cat 
in  his  destructive  habits,  until  the  laws,  so  just  and  useful,  when  mildly, 
but  always,  enforced,  put  an  eilectual  stop  to  their  criminal  proceedings. 
The  Wild-Cat  is  a  great  destroyer  of  eggs,  and  never  finds  a  nest  o{ 
grouse  or  partridge,  wild  turkey  or  other  bird,  without  sucking  every 
egg  in  it.  Indeed,  it  t;  '.  f  r>r,",cticable,  seize  on  both  young  and  old 
birds    of  these    and    otl.f  "e^.      Its    "penchant"    for    a   youlct   nit 

nnturel"  has  suggested  the  -  ^Aving  method  of  capturing  it  in  Georgia,  as 
related  to  us  by  our  friend  Major  Leconte,  late  of  the  United  States  Army. 
A  large  and  strong  box-trnp  is  constructed,  and  a  chicken-cock 
(rooster),  placed  at  the  farthest  end  of  it  from  the  door,  is  tied  by  one 
leg,  so  that  he  cannot  inove.  There  is  a  stout  Avire  partition  about  half 
way  between  the  fowl  and  the  door,  which  prevents  the  Cat  when  enter- 
ing the  trap,  from  seizing  the  bird.  The  trap  is  then  set,  f  o  that  when 
the  animal  enters,  the  ojjen  door  closes  behind  him  by  a  spring,  (commonly 
the  branch  of  some  tree  bent  down  for  the  purpose,  and  released  by  a 
trigger  set  at  the  entrance  or  just  within  the  trap.)  These  traps  are  placed 
in  difl'erent  parts  of  the  plantations,  or  in  the  woods,  and  the  Wild-Cat  is 
generally  attracted  by  the  crowing  of  the  cock  at  early  dawn  of  day. 
Major  Leconte  has  caught  many  of  them  by  this  artifice,  on  and  about 
his  plantations  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Savannah,  in  Georgia;  and  this 
method  of  capturing  the  Wild-Cat  is  also  quite  common  in  South  Caro- 
lina. Indeed,  this  species  does  not  seem  to  possess  the  suspicion  and 
cunning  inherent  in  the  fox,  enabling  the  latter  to  avoid  a  trap  of  al- 
most any  kind.  We  liave  seen  the  Wild-Cat  taken  from  the  common 
log-traps  set  for  racoons.  We  saw  one  in  a  cage,  that  had  been  caught 
in  a  common  box-trap,  baited  with  a  dead  partridge,  and  have  heard 
intelligent  domestics  residing  on  the  banks  of  the  Santee  river,  state, 
tliat  aff(!r  setting  their  steel  traps  for  otters,  they  frequently  found  the 
Wild-Cat  caught  in  them  instead. 

When  this  animal  discovers  a  flock  of  wild  turkeys,  he  will  generally 
follow  them  at  a  little  distance  for  some  time,  and  after  having  ascertain- 
ed the  direction  in  which  they  are  proceeding,  make  a  rapid  detour,  and 
concealing  himself  behind  a  fallen  tree,  or  in  the  lower  branches  of  some 
leafy  maple,  i)atiently  wait  in  ambush  until  the  birds  approach,  when 
he  suddenly  springs  on  one  of  them,  if  near  enough,  and  with  one  bound 
secures  it.  We  once,  while  resting  on  a  log  in  the  woods,  on  the  banks 
01'  the  Wabash  river,  perceived  two  wild  turkey  cocks  at  some  distance 
below  us,  under  lh(>  bank  near  the  water,  pluming  and  picking  their 
feathers ;  on  a  sudden,  one  of  them  flew  across  the  river,  and  the  other  we 


COMMON  amb:rican  wild  cat. 


i:{ 


saw  struggling  in  the  grasp  of  a  Wild-Cat,  which  almost  instantly  dragged 
it  up  the  bank  into  the  woods,  and  made  off.  On  another  occasion  we 
observed  an  individual  of  this  species,  about  nine  miles  from  Charleston', 
in  pursuit  of  a  covey  of  partridges,  {Orlyx  yirginmn(f,)—so  intent 
was  the  Cat  upon  its  prey,  that  it  passed  within  ten  steps  of  us,  as  it  was 
making  a  circle  to  get  in  advance  and  in  the  path  of  the  birds,— its  eyes 
were  constantly  fixed  on  the  covey,  and  it  stealthily  concealed  itself  be 
hind  a  log  it  expected  the  birds  to  pass.  In  a  second  attempt  the  marau- 
der succeeded  in  capturing  one  of  the  partridges,  when  the  rest  in  great 
affright  flew  and  scattered  in  all  directions. 

An  individual  that  was  kept  alive  at  Charleston,  and  afterwards  for  a 
short  time  at  our  house,  in  the  city  of  New- York,  showed  its  affinity  to  the 
domestic  cat,  by  purring  and  mewing  at  times  loud  'enough  to  be  heard  at 
.some  distance.  At  the  former  place  its  cry  was  several  times  mistaken  for 
that  of  the  common  house-cat.  In  the  woods,  during  the  winter  season  its 
loud  catterwauling  can  be  heard  at  the  distance  of  a  mile. 

Although  this  species  may  perhaps  be  designated  as  nocturnal  in  its 
habits,  it  is,  by  no  means,  exclusively  so,  as  is  shown  by  the  foregoing  ac- 
count. We  have,  in  fact,  in  several  instances,  seen  this  Cat  engaged  in 
some  predatory  expedition  in  full  sunshine,  both  in  winter  and  summer. 

It  is  not  a  very  active  swimmer,  but  is  not  averse  to  taking  the  water. 
We  witnessed  it  on  one  occasion  crossing  the  Santce  river  when  not 
pursued,  and  at  another  time  saw  one  swimming  across  some  ponds  to 
make  its  escape  from  the  dogs.  It  has  l)een  observed,  however,  that 
when  it  has  taken  to  the  water  during  a  hard  chase,  it  soon  after  cither  as- 
cends a  tree  or  is  caught  by  the  hounds. 

The  domicile  of  the  Wild-Cat  is  sometimes  under  an  old  log,  covered 
with  vines  such  as  the  Smih/j;  Zkiphus  voluhilus,  Riibii.i,  &c.,  but  more 
commonly  in  a  hollow  tree.  Sometimes  it  is  found  in  an  opening  twenty 
or  thirty  feet  high,  but  generally  much  nearer  the  ground,  frequently  in 
a  cavity  at  the  root,  and  sometimes  in  the  hollow  trunk  of  a  fallen  tree, 
where,  after  collecting  a  considerable  ouantity  of  long  moss  and  dried 
leaves  to  make  a  comfortable  lair,  it  produces  from  two  to  four  younsr. 
These  are  brought  forth  in  the  latter  end  of  March  in  Carolina ;  in  the 
Northern  States,  however,  the  kittens  apjirar  later,  as  we  have  heard  ol 
an  instance  in  Pennsylvania  where  two  young  were  found  on  the  15th 
day  of  May,  apparently  not  a  week  old.  OiU'  friend  Dr.  Samit.i,  Wn.sov, 
of  Charleston,  a  close  observer  of  nature,  has  made  the  following  note  in 
our  memorandum  book:  "April  15th,  18.39,  shot  a  female  Wild-Cat  as  it 
started  from  its  b(>d,  out  of  which  four  young  ones  were  taken ;  their  eyes 
were  not  yet  open."   Our  friend  Dr.  Des^ei.,  whom  we  have  already  mention- 


I 


14 


COMMON  AMERICAN  WILD  CAT. 


0(1,  saw  three  youiiR  onoa  taken  out  from  the  hollow  of  a  tree  which  was 
thirty  foot  from  th..  -round.  On  four  occasions,  wc  have  had  opporluni- 
lies  of  counting  tlio  young,  cith.sr  in  the  n<-st  or  having  h.-cn  v,My  re- 
cently taken  from  it.  In  every  case  there  wen^  tiuee  young  ones.  In  one 
instance  tlic  nest  was  conijjosed  of  long  .noss,  (Tilhauhia  usncoides,)  wiiieh 
seemed  to  have  been  part  of  an  old,  deserted,  squirrel's  nest. 

We  onc(!  made  an  attempt  at  .lomesticating  one  of  tlie  young  of  tliis  spe- 
cies,  wliich  we  obt-Jned  when  only  two  weeks  old.     It  was  a  most  spiteful, 
growling,  snapjush  little  wretch,  and  showed  no  disposition  to  improve  its 
liahits  and  maimers  under  our  kind  tuition.     We  placed  it  in  a  wooden  box," 
from  which  it  was  constantly  striving  to  gnaw  its  way  out.     It,  one  night,' 
escaped  into  our  li])rary,  where  it  made  s;id  work  among  the  books,  (wMch 
gave  us  some  valuable  lessons  on  the  philosophy  of  pati(!nce,  we  could 
not  have  so  readily  found  among  our  folios,)  and  left  the  marks  of  its  teeth 
on  the  mutilated  window-sashes.     Finally,  we  fastened  it  with  a  light 
chain,  and  had  a  small  kennel  built  for  it  in  the  yard.     Here  it  was  con- 
stantly indulging  its  carnivorous    jn'opensities,  and  catching   the   young 
poultry,  wliich  it  enticed  within  reach  of  its  chain  by  leaving  a  portion  (^f 
its  food  at  the  door  of  its  house,  into  which  it  retreated  until  an  opportu- 
nity offered  to  pounce  on  its  unsuspecting  prey.     Thus  it  continued,  grow- 
ing, if  possible,  more  wild  and  vicious  every  day,  growling  and  spitting  at 
every  servant   that  approached   it,  until  at  last,  an  unlucky   blow,  nn  a 
inmishment  for  its  mischievous  tricks,  put  an  end  to  its  life,  and  with  it 
to  one  source  of  annoyance. 

The  Bay  Lynx  is  generally  in  fine  order,  and  oOen  very  fat.  The 
meat  is  white,  and  has  somewhat  the  appearance  of  veal.  Although  we 
omitted  to  taste  it,  we  have  seen  it  cooked,  when  it  appeared  savoury, 
and  the  persons  who  partook  of  it  pronounced  it  delicious. 

The  muscular  jiowers  of  this  species  are  very  great,  and  the  fore-feel 
-uul  legs  are  rather  largt>  in  proportion  to  the  bodj\ 


GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.       • 

The  jveographical  range  of  the  Bay  Lynx  is  very  extensive,  it  being 
found  to  inhabit  portions  of  the  Continent  from  the  tropics  as  far  north  as 
m°.  It  abounds  in  Texas,  Louisiana,  Florida,  Georgia,  and  both  the  Caro- 
linas,  and  is  Ibund  in  all  tlie  Stat(>s  east  of  these,  and  likewise  in  New 
Hriuiswi(!k,  and  Nova  Scotia.  W'e  have  seen  it  on  the  shores  of  the  Up- 
()er  Missouri  more  than  a  thousand  miles  above  St.  Louis.  We  examined 
one  that  had  been  taken  a  few  hours  before,  by  some  hunters  in  Erie  coun- 
ty, in  the  State  of  New-York,  and  have  lienrd  of  its  existing,  although 
rather  sparingly,  in  UjiperCanada,  where  it  has  been  occasionally  eii))'Mn  <l. 


COMMON  AMKIUCAN  WILD  CAT. 


(JENERAI,    REMARKS. 


15 


We  arc  not,  so  fortunate  as  to  possess    any  specnnrn   from  Ore^'on, 
or  the   regions  west  of  the   Rocky  Mountains,  to   c.ial)!,,   us   to    insti- 
tute a  close  comparison,  and  therefore  cannot  be  certain  that  the  Cat 
.les(;rih(!(l  by  LFAVts  and  Clark,  to  which  naturalists,  without  having  seen 
i(.  have  attached  the  name  of  Fclis  fasciata,  or  that  the  individual  de- 
scribed by  Dr.  KicHARusoN,  and  referred  by  him  to  Fclis  riifn,  arc  identi- 
cal  with  the  present  species;  yet  as  they  do  not  present  greater  marks 
ofdidcrence  than  those  observable  in  many  other  varieties  of  it,  and  as  we 
liavc  carefully  examined  scivcral  hundred  specimens  in  the  museums  and 
private  collections  of  Europe  and  America,  and  have,  at  this  moment, 
upwards  of  twenty  lying  before  us,  that  were  obtained  in  various  parts  of 
tiic  country,  from  Texas  to  Canada,  our  present  conclusion  is,  that  in  the 
ITnitcd  States,  cast  and  north  of  the  Mississippi,  there  are  but  two  species 
of  Lynx— the  well  known  Canada  Lynx,  and  the  Bay  Lynx— our  present 
species,  and  that  the  vari(!ties  in  colour,  (especially  in  the  latter  animal,) 
have  contributed  to  the  formation  of  many  imaginary  species.     Whatever 
may  be  the  varictii^s,  however,  there  are  some  markings  in  this  species 
which  are  permanent,  like  i  lie  white  ears  and  nose  of  the  fox  squirrel, 
(.Vc.  Capistratus,)  and  which  serve  to  identify  it  through  all  the  variatioris 
of  sex,  season,  and  latitude.     All  of  them  have  naked  soles,  and  the  pecu- 
liar markings  at  the  extremity  of  the  slender  tail,  which  terminates  as 
abnrpdy  as  if  it  had  been  aiDputated.     It  may  also  be  distinguished  from 
any  variety  of  the  Canada   Lynx,   (/..   Canadensis,)  by  a  wWte   patch 
behind  the  (sar,  which  does  not  exist  in  the  latter. 

This  peculiar  mark  is  to  be  observed,  however,  in  several  species  of  the 
^a•nus  FvAAB.  We  have  noticed  it  in  the  jaguar,  royal  tiger,  panther,  ocelot, 
huntiiif-leopard,  and  other  species. 


Uij 


Iti 


GENUS  ARCTOMYS,  Gmel,  Cuv. 


Incisive 


DENTAL    FORMULA. 


0-0        ,,  ,       5-« 

Canine  — ;    Molar  —  =  22. 
ft-o'  4—4 


Incisors  stronfr,  iiari-ovv,  and  wedf^c-shaped,  anterior  surface  rounded ; 
molars,  with  the  upper  surface  thick  and  heavy. 

Head  hu'ge,' mouth  small,  and  placed  b-ilow;  eyes  large,  ears  short, 
paws  strong ;  fore-feet  with  four  toes  and  the  rudiment  of  a  thumb ; 
hind-feet  with  five  toes ;  nails  strong,  compressed ;  tail  bushy ;  no  cheek 
jwuches. 

The  name  Arctomy  is  derived  from  two  Greek  words :  «^«t««,  (arktos,)  a 
bear,  and  /Mt,  (mits,)  .   mouse. 

There  are,  as  far  as  we  are  informed,  but  eight  known  species  of  the 
genus  as  it  is  now  defined,  five  on  the  Eastern  Continent  and  three  in 
North  America. 


ARCTOMYS  MONAX.— Linn. 

WooD-CiiucK.     INIarvlanii  Mar.mdt.     Ground-Hog. 
PLATE  II. — Fe.male  and  Young. 

A.  Supra  fusco  einereus,  subtus  sub-rufus,  capite,  cauda,  pedibusque 
fuscis,  naso  et  buccis  cinereis. 

CirARACTERS. 

Brownish-gray  above  ;  haul,  tail,  and  feet,  dark-brown  ;  nose  and  cheeks 
onhy-brown,  under  surface  reddish. 


SYNOiViMES. 


lus  MoNAX,  Linn.,  12  nd.,  p.  81. 
iIauylani)  Marmot,  Pcnn.,  Arct.  Zool,  vol.  i.,  p.  111. 
loNAx,  on  ]\lAiiMoni-;  dk  CANAn.^  Bufi".,  Supp.  111. 
Jauvi.am)  Marmot,  Goilinun,  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  ii.,  p.  100,  figure. 
Jauvland  Marmot,  Grilliths'  Cuvi.r,  vol.  iii.,  [t    130,  ligure. 


WOOD-CHUCK   OH   GROUND-HOG. 


ir 


QuEDKo  Marmot,  Pennant,  Hi«t.  Quad.,  Ist  ed..  No.  250. 

Mrs  Emi'ktra,  Pallas,  Glir.,  p.  75. 

Aroiomvs  Empetua,  Salt,  Linn.,  Trans.,  vol.  xiii.,  p   24 

AucTOMvs  E.MPETHA,  Godman,  Nat.  IILst.,  vol.  ii  '  p"  208 

"^"sTsst'"'  ''  ^'"™'"^^^«"-«*'  S-^bine,  Trans!  Linn^^an  Soo.,  vol.  xiii..  pp, 

Arctomts  E.MPKTBA.  K.chardson,  Fauna  Boreali  Americana,  p.  147,  pi.  9. 

DESCRIPTION. 

The  body  is  thick,  and  the  logs  are  short,  .so  that  the  belly  nearlv  touches 
tho  ground      Head  short  and  conical;   ears  short,   rounded,   a^d  thinly 
clothed  with  hair  on  both  surfaces;  eyes  moderate;  whiskers  numerous, 
extending  to  the  ear;  a  membrane  beneath  the  ears,  on  the  posterior  parts 
of  tlie  cheek,  and  a  few  seta,  on  the  eye-brows;  legs,  short  and  muscu- 
lar;  fore-feot,  with  four  toes,  and  the  rudiment  of  a  thumb,  with  a  minute 
nail;   hmd-feet    with    five    toes.      Toes  long  an.l  well  separated,  palms 
naked,  with  tubercles  at  the  roots  of  the  toes.     The  middle  toe  longest- 
the  first  and  third,  which  are  nearly  equal  to  each  other,  not  much  shorter  ■ 
the  extremity  of  the  nail  of  the  outer,  extends  only  to  the  base  of  the  nail 
of  the    adjoining   toe;    fore-claws  moderately  arched,   obtuse  and  com- 
pressed  ;  the  soles  of  the  hind-feet  long,  and  naked  to  the  heel  ;  hind-feet 
semi-palmated ;  nails  channelled  near  the  ends.     Tail  bushy   partly  dis 
hchous :  body  clothed  with  soft  woolly  fur,  which  is  mixed  'with  coarse 
ung  hairs. 

COLOUR. 

This  species  (like  the  foregoing  one)  is  subject  to  many  variations  in  the 
colour  of  Its  fur,  which  may  account  perhaps  for  its  numerous  svnonymes 
We  will,  however,  describe  the  animal  in  its  most  common  '    'taring 

The  finer  woolly  fur  is  for  two-thirds  of  its  l.ngth  from  the  roots  upwards 
of  a  dark  ashy  brown,  with  the  extremities  light  yellowish-brown.  The 
long  hairs  are  dark  brown  for  two-thirds  of  their  length,  tipped  sometimes 
with  reddLsh  white,  but  generally  with  a  silvery  white.  The  general  tint 
ot  the  back  IS  grizzly  or  hoary ;  cheeks,  and  around  the  mouth,  light  gray  • 
whiskers  black;  head,  nose,  feet,  nails  and  tail,  dark  brown;  eyes  black! 
1 1.0  whole  under  surface,  including  the  threat,  breast,  belly,  and  the  fore 
and  hind  legs,  roddish  orange. 

The  specimens  before  us  present  several  striking  varieties  of  colour- 
among  them  is  one  from  Lower  Canada,  coal,^ck  ^vith  the  exception 
of  the  nose  and  a  patch  under  the  chin,  which  are  light  grav;  the  fur  :•> 
short,  and  very  soft;  and  the  tail  less  distichou.  than  in  other  varieties 
of  this  species. 


1 1 


> 


18 


WOOL-CHUCK   OR  GROUND-HOG. 


D1MEN8:3N8. 

Adult  Male. 

From  point  of  nose  to  root  of  tail 

Tnil  (vertebra')  .... 

Tail,  to  end  of  hair       .        .        .        - 

Ear,  poy*oriorly  -        .         .        . 

Girth  of  body       ..... 

From  fore  to  hind  claw,  when  stretched 
We  have  found  some  difference  in  the  length  of  the  tai,,  in  different  in- 
dividuals, it  being,  in  some  specimens,  nearly  seven  inches  long  including 
the  hair. 

Weight  91b.  1 1  oz. 


18| 

inches. 

3} 

do. 

5J 

do. 

f 

do. 

17 

do. 

20 

do. 

HABITS. 

In  the  Middle  States  many  individuals  of  this  species  seem  to  prefr**" 
stony  places,  and  often  burrow  close  to  or  in  a  stone  wall.  When  this  is 
the  case,  it  is  very  difficult  to  procure  them,  as  they  are  secure  from  the 
attacks  of  dogs,  and  much  labour  would  be  necessary  in  removing 
the  large  stones,  and  digging  up  the  earth  in  order  to  dislodge  them. 

From  our  own  observations,  we  arc  jbliged  to  contradict  the  following 
account  given  of  the  habits  of  this  species.  It  has  been  said  that  "  when 
about  to  make  an  inroad  upon  a  clover  field,  all  the  marmots  resident  in 
the  vicinity,  quietly  and  cautiously  steal  towards  the  spot,  being  favoured 
in  their  march  by  their  gray  colour,  which  is  not  easily  distinguished. 

"While  the  main  body  are  actively  engaged  '•  Topping  the  clover  hejids, 
and  gorging  their  'ample  chcck-pouchcs,''  one  or  inore  individuals  remain 
at  some  distance  in  the  rear  as  sentinels.  These  watchmen  sit  erect, 
with  their  fore-paws  held  close  to  their  breast,  and  ttieir  heads  slightly 
inclined,  to  catch  every  sound  which  may  move  the  air.  Their  extreme 
sensibility  of  car  enables  them  to  distinguish  the  approach  of  an  enemy 
long  before  he  is  sufficiently  near  to  be  dangerous,  and  the  instant  the 
sentinel  takes  alarm,  he  gives  a  clear  shrill  whistle,  which  immediately 
disperses  the  troop  in  every  direction,  and  they  speedily  take  refuge  in 
their  deepest  caves.  The  time  at  which  such  incursions  are  made  is 
generally  about  mid-uny,  when  they  are  less  liable  to  be  interrupted  than 
at  any  other  period,  either  by  human  or  brute  enemies,"  (Godman,  Ame- 
rican Natural  History,  vol.  ii.,  p.  102.) 

We  kept  two  of  these  animals  alive  for  ..cveral  weeks,  feeding  them  on 
different  grasses,  potatoes,  apples,  and  other  fruits  and  vegetables.  We 
found  them  to  be  very  active  at  times,  though  fond  of  placing  themselves 


WOOD-CHL'CK  OR  GXIOUND-IIOO. 


19 


In  nn  erect  posture,  sitting  on  their  rump,  and  letting  their  fore-legs  and 
feet  hang  loosely  down  in  iha  manner  of  our  squirrels. 

The  old  liriKilf,  when  itpj)roa(lu{|,  opened  her  mouth,  showed  her  teeth, 
and  mad.-   a  raltling  or  clattering    noise  with    the    latter,  evidently  in 
anger.     Aeither  the  female  nor  the  young  appeared  to  hecome  in  any 
(l.-gree  tame  during  the  period  we  kept  them.     The  former  frequently 
emitted  a  shrill  whistle-like  n  -ise,  which  is  a  note  of  alarm  and  anger, 
and  may  be  heard  wiicn  one  is  at  a  distance  of  about  tlfty  yards  from  the* 
animal.     After  we  had  made  figures  irom  those  specimens,  we  examined 
their  mouths,  but  did  not  find  any  pouches  like  those  described  by  Dr. 
G....MAN,  although  ihere  appeared  to  be  a  cavity,  not  larger  than  would 
admit  a  common  green  pea,  and  which  was  the  only  trace  of  any  thing 
like  a  pouch  in  those  we  procured,  and  in  all  that  have  been  observed  by  us 
When  the  Wood-Ch.ok  is  feeding,  it  keeps  its  erect  position,  inclin- 
ing the  head  and  fore-part  of  its  body  forward  and  sideways,  so  as  to 
reach  its  ibod  wilhout  extending  the  fore-legs  and  feet,  which  are  drawn 
back  under  it ;  after  getting  a  moulhliil,  it  draws  back  its  head  again  and 
brings  its  body  to  an  upright  posture  by  the  muscular  power  of  the  hind- 
legs  and  feet.     On  being  surprised  or  pursued,  this  species  runs  very  last 
for  some  eight  or  ten  yards,  and  thr^n  frequently  stops  short  and  squats 
down  close  to  the  groimd,  watching  to  see  if  it  has  been  observed;  and 
will  allow  you  to  approach  within  a  few  feet,  when  it  starts  suddenly 
again,  and  again  stoi)s  and  squats  down  as  before.     Not  unfrequenlly  un- 
der these  circumstances,  it  hides  its  head  beneath  the  dry  leaves,  or'Imid 
tufts  of  grass,  to  conceal  itself  from  the  pursuer.     You  may  then  gene- 
rally caplurc  or  kill  it  with  a  stick.     These  animals  bite  severely  an' 
delend  ihemselves  fiercely,  and  will,  when  unable  to  escape,  turn'  anc 
make  battle  with  a  dog  of  more  than  double  their  own  size.     Sometimes 
whilst  they  were  lying  down  as  if  asleep,  we  have  heard  them  make  the 
clattering  noise  before  spoken  of,  with  their  teeth ;  reminding  us  of  a 
person's  teeth  chattering  in  an  ague  fit.     When  walking  leisurely,  they 
place  their  feet  flat  upon  the  ground  at  full  length,  arching  the  toes  'how- 
ever, as  is  the  habit  of  squirrels.     These  Marmots  sleep  during  the  g'reater 
part  of  (he  day,  stealing  from  their  burroAvs  early  in  the  mornin-  and  to- 
wards  evening.     They  climb  trees  or  bushes  awkwardlv,  and  when  they 
have  found  a  comtbrtal)le  situation  in  the  sunshine,  either  on  the  branch 
ol  a  tree,  or  on  a  bush,  will  remain  there  lor  hours.     They  clean  their 
faces  with  (he  fore-feet,  whilst  sitting  up  on  their  hind-legs,  like  a  squirrel, 
an<l  Ircjuenlly  lick  their  fur  in  the  manner  of  a  eat,  leaving  the  coat 
smoothed  down   by  the  tongue.     The  bodv  of  (he  Wood-Chuck  is  ex- 
•remely  flabby  after  being  killed     its  flesh  is.  however,  tolp-ably  o-ood 


k 


•) 


20 


WOOD-CHl  CK  OR  GROUND-HOG. 


although  a  little  strong,  and  is  frequently  purchased  by  the  humbler 
classes  of  people,  who  cook  it  like  a  roasting  pig.  Occasionally,  and 
especially  in  autumn,  it  is  exceedingly  fat. 

This  species  becomes  torpid  about  the  time  the  leaves  have  fallen  from 
the  trees  in  the  autumn  and  the  frosty  air  gives  notice  of  the  approach  of 
winter,  and  remains  burrowed  in  the  earth  until  the  grass  has  sprung  up 
and  the  genial  warmth  of  spring  invites  it  to  come  forth. 

We  once  observed  one  sunning  itself  at  the  mouth  of  its  burrow,  on  the 
23d  of  October,  in  the  State  of  New- York ;  and  in  the  same  State,  saw 
one  killed  by  a  dog  on  the  first  of  March,  when  the  winter's  snow  was  yet 
lying  in  patches  on  the  ground. 

Where  the  nature  of  the  country  will  admit  of  it,  the  Wood-Chucks 
select  a  projecting  rock,  in  some  fissure  under  which,  they  can  dig  their 
burrows.     In  other  localities  they  dig  them  on  the  sides  of  hills,  or  in  places 
where  the  surface  of  the  ground  is  nearly  level.     These  burrows  or  exca- 
vations are  sometimes  extended  to  the  length  of  twenty  or  thirty  feet  from 
the  opening ;  for  the  first  three  or  four  feet  inclining  obliquely  downward, 
and  the  gallery  being  continued  farther  on,  about  on  a  level,  or  with  a  slight 
inclination  upward  to  its  termination,  where  there  is  a  large  round  chamlier, 
to  which  the  occupants  retire  for  rest  and  security,  in  which  the  female 
gives  birth  to  her  young,  and  where  the  family  spend  the  winter  in  torpidity. 
Concerning  this  latter  most  singular  state  of  existence,  we  are  gratified 
in  being  able  to  communicate  the  following  facts,  related  to  us  by  the 
Hon.  Daniel  Wadswortii,  of  Hartford,  Coimecticut.    "  I  kept,"  said  he  to  us, 
"a  fine  AXOod-Chuek  in  captivity,  in  this  house,  for  upwards  of  two  vears. 
It  was  brought  to  me  by  a  country  lad,  and  was  then  large,  rather  wild, 
and  somewhat  cross  and  mischievous;   being  placed  in  the  kitchen,  it 
soon  found  a  retreat,  in  which  it  remained  concealed  the  greater  part  of 
us  time  every  day.     During  several  nights  it  attempted  to  escape  by 
gnawing  the  door  and  window  sills ;  gradually  it  became  more  quiet,  and 
suffered  itself  to  be  approached  by  the  inmates  of   the  kitchen,  these 
being  the  cook,  a  fine  dog,  and  a  cat ;  so  that  ere  many  months  had  elapsed, 
it  would  lie  on  the  floor  near  the  fire,  in  company  with  the  dog,  and  would 
take  food  from  the  hand  of  the  cook.     I  now  began  to  take  a  partieulnr 
interest  in  its  welfare,  and  hud  a  large  l)ox  made  for  its  use,  and  filled 
with  hay,  to  which  it  became  haliituated,  and  always  retired  when  in- 
clined to  repose.     Winter  coming  on,  the  box  was  placed  in  a  warm 
corner,  and  the  Wood-Chuck  went  into  it,  arranged  its  bed  with  care, 
and  became  torpid.     Some  six  weeks  having  ])assed  without  its  appear- 
ing, or  having  received    any  food,  I  had  it  taken  out  of  the  box,  and 
brought  into  the  parlour ;— it  was  inanimate,  and  as  round  as  a  ball,  its 


WOOD-CHUCK  OR  GROUND-HUG. 


21 


nose  being  buried  as  it  were  in  the  lower  part  of  its  abdomen,  and  covered 
by  its  tail ;  it  was  rolled  over  ihe  carpet  many  times,  but  without  effecting 
any  apparent  change  in  its  leth.-rgic  condition;  and  being  desirous  to  push 
the  experiment  as  iar  as  in  my  power,  I  laid  it  close  to  the  fire,  and  hav- 
ing ordered  my  dog  to  lie  down  by  it,  placed  the  Wood-Chuck  in  the  dog's 
lap.  In  about  half  an  hour,  my  pet  slowly  unrolled  itseli;  raised  its  no°se 
from  the  carpet,  looked  around  for  a  few  minutes,  and  then  slowly  craAVl- 
ed  away  from  the  dog,  moving  about  the  room  as  if  in  search  of  its  own 
bedl  I  took  it  up,  and  had  it  carried  down  stairs  and  placed  again  in  its 
box,  where  it  went  to  slecj),  as  soundly  as  ever,  until  spring  made  its  ap- 
pearance. That  season  advancing,  and  the  trees  showing  their  leaves, 
the  Wood-Chuck  became  as  brisk  and  gentle  as  coidd  be  desired,  and 
was  frequently  brought  into  the  parlour.  The  succeeding  v\  inter  this 
animal  evinced  the  same  dispositions,  and  never  appeared  to  suffer  by 
its  long  sleep.  An  accident  deprived  me  of  my  pet,  for  having  been  trod- 
den on,  it  gradually  became  poor,  refused  food,  and  finally  died  extremely 
emaciated." 

Uixy  we  here  be  allowed  to  detain  you,  kind  reader,  for  a  few  mo- 
ments, whilst  we  reflect  on  this,  one  among  thousands  of  instances  of  the 
all-wise  dispensations  of  the  Creator  ?  Could  any  of  the  smaller  species 
of  quadrupeds,  incapable,  as  many  of  them  are,  of  migrating  like  the 
swift-winged  iidiabi'nnts  of  the  air  to  the  sunny  climes  of  the  South,  and 
equally  unable  to  find  any  thing  to  subsist  on  among  the  dreary  wastes 
of  snow  in  the  frost-bound  lands  of  the  North  during  winter,  have  a 
greater  boon  at  the  hands  of  Nature  than  this  power  of  escaping  the 
rigours  and  cold  blasts  of  that  season,  and  resting  securely,  in  a  sleep  of 
insensibility,  free  from  all  cravings  of  hunger  and  all  danger  of  perish- 
ing with  cold,  till  the  warm  sun  of  spring  once  more  calls  them  into  life 
md  activity  ?  The  Wood-Chuck  and  several  other  species  of  (luadrupeds 
whose  organization  in  this  respect  .lifl-ers  so  widely  from  general  rules,' 
may  be  said  to  have  no  winter  in  th.-ir  year,  but  enjoy  the  delightful 
weather  of  spring,  smnmer,  and  autumn,  without  caring  for  the  approach 
of  that  season  during  which  other  animals  often  suffer  from  both  cold 
and  hunger. 

"  Whilst  hunting  one  day,  (said  a  good  friend  of  ours,  when  we  were 
last  in  Canada,)  I  came  across  a  Wnod-rimck,  called  in  Cannda  bj 
the  dilferent  names  of  Silileur,  GroMi.d-lloir,  and  occasionally  ^rannot, 
with  .••  litter  of  six  or  sevn  young  ones  by  her  side.  I  leaped  fre-n 
my  horse,  (e.-ling  confident  that  I  could  capture  at  least  one  or  two 
of  then.,  but  I  was  mistaken;  ibr  Ihe  dani,  which  seemed  to  anticipate 
my  evil  designs,  ran  round  and  round  the  whole  of  her  young  '  chucks, 


} 


22 


WOOD-CHUCK  on  GROUND-HOG. 


tirging  them  towards  a  hole  beneath  a  rock,  with  so  much  quickness— 
energy,  I  may  call  it — that  ere  I  could  lay  hands  on  even  one  of  her  pro- 
geny, she  had  them  all  in  the  hole,  mto  which  she  then  pitched  herself, 
and  left  me  gazing  in  front  of  her  well-secured  retreat,  thus  baffling  all 
my  exertions ! " 

We  have  now  and  then  observed  this  Marmot  in  the  woods,  leaning 
with  its  back  against  a  tree  and  exposing  its  under  parls  to  the  rays 
of  the  hottest  sun:  on  such  occasions  its  head  was  reclining  on  its 
breast,  the  eyes  were  closed,  the  fore-legs  hanging  down,  and  it  was 
apparently  asleep,  and  presented  a  singular  and  somewhat  ludicrous 
figure. 

An  intelligent  naturalist  has  in  his  account  of  these  animals,  said 
that  "their  burrows  contain  large  excavations  in  which  they  deposit 
stores  of  provisions."  This  assertion  contradicts  our  own  obsei'vation 
and  experience.  We  are  inclined  to  doubt  whether  storing  up  provisions 
at  any  or  for  any  season  of  the  year,  can  be  a  habit  of  this  species.  In  the 
summer  of  1314,  in  Rensselaer  County,  in  the  State  of  New- York,  we 
marked  a  burrow  which  was  the  resort  of  a  pair  of  Marmots.  In  the  begm- 
ning  of  November  the  ground  was  slightly  covered  with  snow,  and  the  frist 
had  jwnetrated  to  the  depth  of  about  half  an  inch.  We  now  had  excava- 
tions made  in  a  line  along  the  burrow  or  gallery  of  the  Marmots ;  and  at 
about  twenty-five  feet  from  the  mouth  of  the  hole,  both  of  them  were 
found  lying  close  to  each  other  in  a  nest  of  dried  grass,  which  did  not  ap- 
pear  to  have  been  any  of  it  eaten  or  bitten  by  them.  They  were  each 
rolled  up,  and  looked  somewhat  like  two  misshapen  balls  of  hair,  and 
were  perfectly  dormant.  We  removed  them  to  a  hay  stack,  in  which  we 
made  an  excavation  to  save  them  from  the  cold.  One  of  them  did  not 
survive  the  first  severe  weather  of  the  winter,  having,  as  we  thought  on 
examining  them,  been  frozen  to  death.  The  other,  the  male,  was  now 
removed  to  a  c(>llar,  where  he  remained  in  a  jierfectly  dormant  state 
unt'i  the  latter  part  of  February,  when  he  escaped  belbre  we  were  aware 
of  'lis  reaniination.  We  had  handled  him  only  two  days  previously,  and 
could  perceive  no  symptoms  of  returning  vivacity.  During  the  time 
he  was  in  the  celliir,  tliere  was  certainly  no  necessity  lor  a  "store  of 
provisions"  for  him,  as  the  animal  was  i)erfectly  torpid  and  motionless 
iVom  the  day  he  was  caught,  until,  as  just  mentioned,  he  emerged  from 
that  state  and  made  his  escape. 

In  the  month  of  ^lay,  or  sometimes  in  June,  the  female  brings  forth 
her  young,  generally  lour  or  five  in  number.  We  have  however  on  two 
occasions,  counted  seven,  and  on  another  eight,  young  in  a  litter.  In 
about  three  weeks,  they  may  be  seen  playing  around  the  mouth  of  the 


WOOD-CHUCK  OR  GRUUxND-HOG. 


23 


■jurrow,  where  sitting  on  their  hind-feet  in  the  manner  of  the  Kangaroo, 
they  closely  watch  every  intruder,  retreating  hastily  into  the  hole  at  the 
first  notes  of  alarm  sounded  by  the  mother. 

The  Wood-Chuck  in  some  portions  of  our  country  exists  in  considerable 
numbers,  although  it  is  seldom  found  associating  with  any  of  its  own 
species  except  while  the  young  are  still  unable  to  provide  for  themselves, 
until  which  period  they  are  g»nerally  taken  care  of  by  both  parents. 

When  the  young  are  a  few  months  old  they  prepare  for  a  separation, 
and  dig  a  number  of  holes  in  the  vicinity  of  their  early  domicile,  some  of 
which  are  only  a  few  feet  deep  and  are  never  occupied.  These  numer- 
ous burrows  have  given  rise  to  the  impression  that  this  species  lives  in 
communities,  which  we  think  is  not  strictly  the  case. 

GEOGRAFinCAL    DISTRIBUTIOK. 

We  have  found  the  Wood-Chuck  in  every  State  of  the  Union  north-east 
of  South  Carolina,  and  throughout  the  Canadas,  Nova  Scotia,  and  New 
Brunswick.  We  have  also  a  specimen  from  Hudson's  Bay;  but  perhaps 
it  is  nowhere  more  plentiful  than  on  the  upper  Missouri  River,  where  we 
found  its  burrows  dug  in  the  loamy  soil  adjoining  the  shores,  as  well  as 
m  the  adjacent  woods,  it  is  not  found  in  the  maritime  districts  either  of 
North  or  South  Carolina,  but  exists  very  sparingly  in  the  mountainous 
regions  of  those  States.  We  have  also  traced  it  along  the  eastern  range 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains  as  far  south  as  Texas.  A  Marmot  exists  in 
California  resembling  the  present  species  very  nearly,  but  which  wii: 
probably  prove  distinct  from  the  latter,  a  point  which  time  and  a  grcatci 
number  of  specimens  must  determine. 


£'. 


GENERAL    RtMARKS. 

It  will  be  observed  that  we  have  united  A.  monax  with  A.  empetra, 
and  have  rejected  the  latter  as  a  species.  This  must  necessarily  follow 
from  the  fact,  that  if  there  is  but  one  species,  the  name  monax  having 
been  first  given,  must  be  retained.  Schreber  appears  to  have  committed 
the  first  error  in  describing  from  a  young  specimen  of  a  variety  of  A. 
monax  and  erecting  it  into  a  new  species.  The  old  authors  followed,  and 
most  of  tJKMn  being  mere  compilers,  have  constantly  copied  his  errors. 
Mr.  Sauinu  (Transactions  Linn.  Soc,  vol.  xiii.,  part  2,  p.  .581)  described  a 
■spocim.Mi  existing  in  the  British  Museum,  as  A.  rmpetra,  which  we,  after 
■i  car.«ful  examination,  consider  only  a  variety  of  A.  monax.  Mr.  SAniNE'a 
description  of  the  latter  species  is,  as  he  informed  us,  compiled  from 
various  authors.     Had  he  possessed  a  specimen,  we  think  he  would  not 


nn 


^ 


24 


WOOD-CHUCK  OR  GROUND-HOO. 


have  fallen  intt  the  common  error.  Dr.  Richardson,  who  appears  not 
to  have  known  the  A.  monax,  also  described  it  under  the  name  of  A. 
empetra,  and  gave  a  figure  of  it.  We  have,  however,  been  unable  to 
discover  any  specific  diflerences  between  the  specimens  now  before  us 
and  the  one  so  accurately  described  and  figured  by  him  in  the  Fauna- 
boreali-Americana.  We  are,  therefore,  compelled  to  consider  them  all 
as  identical. 

'I'he  great  varieties  of  colour  to  be  observed  in  different  specimens 
of  tiiis  ]\iarmot,  togdther  with  the  circumstance  that  no  two  of  them 
are  of  the  same  size,  have  tended  no  doubt  to  confuse,  those  who  have 
described  it.  We  have  seen  them  of  all  colours,  from  black  to  brown, 
and  from  rufous  to  bluish-gray,  although  they  are  most  frequently  of 
the  colour  represented  in  the  plate.  We  have  received  a  specimen 
from  an  eminent  British  naturalist  as  A.  empetra,  obtained  from  Hud- 
son's Bay,  which  does  not  differ  from  the  present  species,  and  which 
instead  of  being  eleven  inches  in  length,  the  size  given  to  A.  em- 
petra, measures  fifteen.  As  Richardson's  species,  moreover,  was  from 
seventeen  to  twenty  inches  in  length,  and  as  we  compared  his  speci- 
men (now  in  the  museum  of  the  Zoological  Society  of  London)  with 
several  specimens  of  the  Maryland  Marmot,  without  observing  the  least 
specific  dilference  between  them,  we  consider  it  necessary  to  strike  ofif 
the  Canada  Marmot,  or  Arctomys  empetra,  from  the  North  American 
Fauna. 

From  the  short  and  very  unsatisfactory  description,  and  the  wretched 
figure  of  the  Bahama  Coney,  contained  in  Catesby,  vol.  ii.,  p.  79,  plate 
79,  it  is  very  difficult  to  decide  either  on  the  species  or  genus  which 
he  intended  to  describe.  As  however  nearly  all  our  writers  on  natural 
history  have  quoted  his  Bahama  Coney  as  referring  to  the  Maryland 
Marmot,  we  have  carefully  compared  his  descriptions  and  figure  with 
this  species,  and  have  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  Catesbv  described 
and  figured  one  of  the  species  of  jutia,  {Capromys  Founiien,  Desm.,) 
and  that  his  Cuniculus  Buhamicnsis  has  been  therefore  erroneously 
quoted  as  a  synonyme  of  A.  monax. 


'^M 


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^ 


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iT' 


J  ,?4 


25 


GENUS  LEPUS.— Linn. 


DENTAL    FORMULA. 

Incisive  - ;  Canine  — • ;  Molar  —  =  28. 

Upper  incisors  in  pairs,  two  in  front  large  and  grooved,  and  two  ira- 
mediately  behind,  small;  lowei-  incisors  square;  molars,  with  flat 
crowns,  and  transverse  laminae  of  enamel.  Interior  of  the  mouth  and 
soles  of  the  feet  furnished  with  hair;  ears  and  eyes  large;  fore-feet  with 
(ive  toes  ;  hind-feet  with  only  four ;  hind-legs  very  long ;  tail  short ;  mam- 
mae, from  six  to  ten. 

The  word  Lepus  is  derived  from  the  Latin,  lepus,  and  Greek  Eolic, 
Ai^rapii,  (Icpon's,)  a  hai-e. 

There  are  about  thirty  known  species  of  this  genus,  of  which  rather 
Die  largest  number  (perhaps  sixteen  or  seventeen  species)  exist  in  North 
and  South  America ;  while  the  remainder  belong  to  the  Eastern  continent. 


LEPUS  TOWNSENDII.-Bach. 

Townsend's  Rocky  Mountain  Hark. 

PLATE  III. — Male  and  Femalb. 

L.  magnitudine,  L.  Americano  par ;  auribus,  cauda,  cruribus  tarsisque 
bngis.simis ;  supra  diluti  cinereus,  infra  albus. 

characters. 

^«e  of  the  Northern  hare,  {L.  Americanus :)  ears,  tail,  legs,  ana  tarsus, 
very  long ;  colour  above,  light  gray ;  beneath,  white. 

SYNONYMES. 

Upu8Town8endii,   Bach.,  Journal  Acad.  Nat.  Sciences.   Philadelphia,  vol.  viii, 
!>'i'tl,p.  90,  pi.  2,(1839,)  read  Aug.  Y,  1838. 
1 


'^6 


TOWNSEND'S  ROCKV  MOUNTAIN  HARE. 


DEBCRIPTION 


Body,  long  and  slender ;  head,  much  arched ;  eyes  large ;  cars,  long 
tail  very  long,  (compared  with  others  of  the  genus,)  in  proportion  to  the 
size  of  the  animal ;  legs  long  and  slender ;  tarsus  very  long.     The  whole 
conformation  of  this  animal  is  indicative  of  great  speed. 


COLOUR. 

Crown  of  the  head,  cheeks,  neck,  whole  upper  parts,  and  the  front  of 
the  ears  and  legs,  externally,  grny ;  with  a  faint  cream-coloured  tinge. 
Hair,  on  hack  and  sides,  whitish,  or  silver  gray,  at  the  roots,  followed  by 
brownish- white,  which  is  succeeded  by  black,  subdued  gradually  to  a 
faint  yellowish- white,  and  iinally  tipped  with  black,  interspersed  with  long 
silky  hairs,  .some  of  which  are  black  from  their  roots.  On  the  chin 
throat,  under  surface,  interior  of  legs,  and  the  tail,  (with  the  exception  of 
a  narrow  dark  line  running  longitudinally  on  the  top,)  the  hair  is  pure 
white  from  the  roots.  Iridcs  light  hazel ;  around  the  eyes  white ;  back 
part  of  the  tips  of  the  ears  black ;  external  two-thirds  of  the  hinder  part 
of  the  ears  white,  running  down  to  the  back  part  of  the  neck,  and  then 
blending  with  the  colour  of  the  upper  surface;  anterior  third  of  the  outer 
portion  of  the  ear,  the  same  grny  colour  as  the  back,  fringed  on  the  edge 
with  long  liiiirs,  wiiicli  are  reddish  fawn  colour  at  the  roots  and  white  at 
the  tips;  interior  of  the  car  very  thinly  covered  with  beautiful  fine  white 
hairs,  being  more  thickly  clothed  near  the  edge,  where  it  is  grizzly-black 
and  yellowish;  edge,  fringed  with  pure  <^'-  to,  becoming  yellowish  toward 
the  tip,  and  at  the  tip  black.  Moustaches  for  the  most  part  white,  black 
at  the  roots,  a  few  hairs  are  pure  white,  others  wholly  black. 

The  sipecimen  which  was  described  and  first  published  in  the  Transac- 
tions of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia,  was  a  female, 
procured  by  J.  K.  Townsend,  Esq.,  on  the  Walla-Walla,  one  of  the  sources 
of  the  Columbia  river. 

Another  specimen  now  in  our  possession,  the  dimensions  of  which  are 
given  below,  is  in  summer  pelage,  having  been  obtained  on  the  flth  June. 
There  is  scarcely  a  shade  of  difTeronce  in  its  general  colour,  although  the 
points  of  many  of  the  hairs  are  yellowish-white,  instead  of  being  tipped 
with  blnck,  as  in  the  specimen  obtained  by  Mr.  Townsend.  There  is  also 
a  white  spot  on  the  forehead.  The  young  is  a  miniature  of  the  adult. 
We  observe  no  other  diiiercnces  than  that  tho  colour  is  a  little  lighter, 
and  the  tail  pure  white. 


TOWNSEND'S  ROCKY  MOUNTAIxN  HARE. 


37 


DIMENSIONS. 

Adult  Male,  (killed  on  the  Upper  Mis?  juri  river.) 
From  nose  to  root  of  tail        ... 
Tail  (vertebra-)      -        -        -        .        . 
Do.,  to  end  of  hair  -        -        .        . 

Hei<,'ht  of  ear,  posteriorly       ... 
Length  of  head  in  a  direct  line 

"      following  the  curvature 
"    from  heel  to  end  of  claw- 
Weight,  0|  pounds. 

Adult  Female,  (shot  by  Edward  Harris,  Esq.,  on  the  27th 
From  nose  to  root  of  tail 
Tail  (vertebra;)      .... 
Do.,  to  end  of  hair  ... 

Height  of  ear,  posteriorly 
Between  the  eyes  ... 

From  nose  to  hind  feet  (stretched  out) 
Height  from  foot  to  shoulder 
Height  to  rump      .... 

Young. 


21} 

inches 

3} 

do. 

If 

do. 

^ 

do. 

4f 

do. 

5^ 

do. 

5| 

do. 

July,  1843.) 

21 

inches. 

3 

do. 

H 

do. 

5J 

do. 

2 

do. 

30 

do. 

m 

do. 

14 

do. 

12 

nches. 

U 

do. 

2} 

do. 

2f 

do. 

•^i 

do. 

21 

do. 

31 

do. 

3* 

do. 

From  nose  to  root  of  tail 
Tail  (vertebra))      -         -        ■        . 
Do.,  to  end  of  hair         -        -    .    - 
Height  of  ear,  posteriorly 
Height  from  claw  to  shoulder 
Length  of  head  in  a  direct  line 

"      following  the  curve 
"    from  heel  to  end  of  claw 

HABITS. 

We  subjoin  the  following  note,  received  from  the  original  discoverer  of 
this  Hare,  which  contains  some  valuable  information  in  regard  to  its 
habits  :— "  This  species  is  common  in  the  Rocky  Mountains.  I  made  par- 
ticular  inquiries  both  of  the  Indians  and  British  traders,  as  to  the  changes 
it  undergoes  at  diflVrcnt  seasons,  and  they  all  agreed  that  it  never  was 
lighter  coloured.  We  first  saw  it  on  the  plains  of  the  Bla  kfoot  river, 
east  of  the  mountains,  and  observed  it  in  all  similar  situation.-  during  our 
route  to  the  Columbia.     When  first  ^een,  which  was  in  July,  it  wa.s  lean 


vf  |j  J 


I 


28 


TOWNSKNO'S  FtiJCKY  MOUNTAFN  HARE. 


mid  unsavory,  Imviiij,',  like  r)iir  cotiimon   species,  llie  liirvu  of  uii  irispcl 
imbedded  in  its  neck  ;  Imt  when  we  arrived  at  Walla-VVMlla,  in  Septein^ 
i)er,  we  l<>iind  the   IndLins  iind  the  persons  attached  to  llit;  lort  iisinij;  if 
as  a  connnon  arlicUi  ol'  tbod.     Inunedi.itely  nll-.r  wv.  arrived  wo  were  re- 
galed with  a  dish  of  hares,  and  I   thonyiil    I   iiad  never  eaten   anytiiing 
more  delicious.     They  are  found  in  great  nuinljers  on  the  plains  covered 
with  wild  wormwood,  {Artrmi .:.■(/.)     Tiiey  are  so  exceedingly  lleet  that 
no  (trdinary  dog  can  catch  tliem.     I  have  fretiuently  surprised  them  in 
their  fcntiis  luu     \)t  them   as  they  leaped  away,  hut  I  found  it  necessary 
to  be  very  exi)edu.    's  and  to  pull  trigger  at  a  particular  instant,  or  the 
game  was  olF  among  tiie  wormwood  and  I  never  saw  it  again.     The  In- 
dians kill   them  v.ith  arrows  hy  approaching  them  stealthily  as  they  lie 
concealed  under  the  l)usln>s,  and  in  winter  take  ihem  with  nets.     To  do 
this,  some  one  or  two  hundred  Indians,  men  women  and  ciiildreii,  collect, 
and  enclose  a  large  space  with  a  sliglit  net  about  five  feet  wide,  made  of 
hem]);  the  net  is  kept  in  a  vertical  jmsition  by  pointed  sticks  attached  to 
it  and  driven  into  the  ground.     These  sticks  are  placed  aliout  live  or  six 
(eet  nj)art,  and  at  each  one  an  Indian  is  stationed  with  a   short   clul)  in 
his  hand.     After  these  Jirrangemeiits  are  completed  a  large  number  of 
Indians  enter   the  circle  and  beat  the  bushes  in  vwvy  direction.     The 
iViuhtened  hares  dart  off  towards  the  net,  and  in  attempting  to  pass  are 
knocked  on  the  head  and  secured.     ISIr.  l*.\MnKi:\,  the  su])ennfendenl,  of 
Fen  Walla-Walhu,  from  whom  I  obtained  this  account,  says  that  he  has 
oft(Mi  participated  in  this  sport  witli  the   Indians  and  has  known  several 
hundred  to  be  thus  taken  in  a  diiy.     \\\wn  captured  alive  tliey  do  not 
scream  like  the  connnon  gray  rabbit,  (//.  Sf/!ni/inis.)"     "This  Hare  in- 
habits  the  plains  exclusively,  and  seems  particularly  fond  of  the  vici  lity 
of   the    aromatic   wormwood.     Inuncdiately  you    leave   these   bushes  in 
journeying  towards  the  sea  you  lose  sight  of  the  Hare." 

To  the  above  account  we  added  some  farther  information  on  our  last  visit 
to  the  far  West.  On  the  Nth  .line  1813  whilst  our  men  were  engaged  in 
cutting  wood  and  bringing  it  on  board  the  steamer  Omega,  it  being  neces- 
sary in  that  wild  region  to  stop  and  cut  wood  li.r  fueJ  for  the  boat  every 
day,  one  of  the  crew  started  a  young  ll.-ire  and  after  a  short  chase  the 
poor  thing  squatted  and  w.is  killed  by  ji  blow  with  a  stick.  It  proved  to 
be  the  young  of  Lcpiis  TowimiuHi,  was  large  enough  to  have  left  its  dam, 
weighed  rather  more  than  one  pound,  and  was  a  beautiful  specimen. 
Its  irides  were  pure  amber  -olour  and  the  eyes  large,  its  liair  was 
s'ightly  curled  This  Hare  was  captured  more  than  r-velve  hundred 
miles  east  of  Ih^-  IJocky  Mount:ii,is.  On  the  next  day  in  the  al'teriioon 
one  of  tlie  negro  (ire-tendi'rs  being  out  with  a  rille,  shot  two  others,  both 


TOWNSENH'S  R0(;KY  MoHN'TAIN  ji 


ARE 


m 


29 


on  th.  spof.  The  l.a.r,  or  fur.  of  this  in.livi.lu.l  was  sli.h.U  ..n-l.-.l  ,.s  in 
tho  young  o,.,,  especially  alon,.  llu,  hack  a.ul  sides,  l.ut,  si.^rliy  af.cr  ,ho 
sku.s  had  I,cc„  prepared  this  character  disappeared.  These  «pcci,nenH 
are  now  in  our  coih'ction. 

Pursuing  our  Journey  up  the  tortuous  and  •  ,pid  sMvam.  vve  ha.l  not 
tho  good  lortuno  to  sec  auy  more  of  these  i>eautifui  animals  un.il  after 
our  arnval  at  Fort  Un.on  near  the  mouth  of  the  Y.-ilow  Stone  river 
where  vve  es,,d,iished  ourselves  for  some  time  by  the  kind  pennission  of 
til.!  gentlemen  conneet.'d  with  the  fur  trade. 

()»  the  ooth  of  .ruly.on  our  return  Irom  a  huffalo-hunt,  when  we  wore 
some  torty  or  hity  miles  from  the  fort  sud.Ierdy  a  fine  hare  leap..!  from 
O.o  gnss  (.eforc  us  and  stoppe.l  within  twenty  paces.     Our  friend,  Ea- 

us  ..th  large  buck-shot  u.teMd..,I  for  killing  an„.lopes;  we  tired  at  It 
bu  m.ss,.d:  away  .t  wen,,  and  r,,n  around  a  hill,  Mr.  IT.,un«  follower!, 
and  ,1  course  h.u.jr  ,,„„  ,,y  ^^^  U,,,,  ,,],,  observed  "Pussy"  stealing 
carCully  along  wuh  her  ears  low  down  trying  to  escape  the',uiek  .■  ^ 
o»  her  pursuers,  the  forme-  gentleu.an  came  up  to  and  shot  her. 

Th,s  spec.es,  like  all  others  of  the  same  family,  is  tin.id  and  fearful  in 
he  extreme.     Its  speed,  we  think,  far  surpasses  that  of  the   European 

If  the  >v«  is  indicative  of  character,  this  animal,  from  its  slender 
body  long  htnd  legs  and  great  length  of  tarsus  must  be  the  fleetest 
'>f  the  hares  of  the  West. 

Tlnse  hares  generally  place  or  construct  their  forms  under  a  thick  Mil- 
low  bu^,  or  tf  at  a  distance  (Von.  the  water-courses  on  the  ba  k  , 
whtch  those  trees  grow,  or  when  they  are  in  the  :,pen  prairie,  the ^       . 

iTJt^  ""'''  ^'  ^^"^^  ''-''  ^'  '^^'^  ^"^  «'-^-  o^-  -  -no  or  la;g: 

The  liocky  Motmtain  Hare   produces    from   four  to  six  j-oun-^  in  the 
.■a.-.     Aslar  as  we  have  ^  en  able  to  ascrtaln  it  has  but  It 
'I..  >oung  suck  and  follow  the  dam  for  about  six  weeks  alVer    .  '^    ^ 
urns  then,  od  and  leaves  them  to  provide  for  tla.nselves.     Tl  If 

"s.cdd  of  da.k-coloured,  as  is  the  case  with  the  latter. 

OEOGRAPHICAI,  DISTRIUlJTIOjr. 


Ml 


30 


TOWNSEND'S  ROCKY  MOUNTAIN  HARE. 


shores  of  the  lower  Missouri,  and  has  a  range  of  fifteen  hundred  miles 
east  of  the  great  Rocky  Mountain  Chain. 

According  to  JMr.  Toun\«e\d  it  is  common  on  the  Rocky  Mountains 
and  exists  in  considerable  numhers  on  the  --.vestern  side  of  that  great 
chain;  and  if  travellers  have  not  confounded  it  with  other  species  it  ex- 
ff^nds  southwardly  as  far  as  Upper  California. 

The  period  may  arrive  when  civilization  shall  have  drawn  wealth  and 
a  large  population  into  these  regions.  Then  will  in  all  probability  this 
poor  liaro  lie  hunted  liy  greyhounds  followed  by  gentlemen  on  horseback ; 
and  whilst  the  level  plains  of  our  vast  prairies  will  afford  both  dogs  and 
horsemen  every  opportunity  of  rapid  pursuit,  the  great  swiftness  of  this 
species  will  try  their  powers  and  test  their  speed  to  the  utmost. 


GENERAL  REMARKS. 

We  have,  since  this  species  was  first  described  had  some  misgivings 
in  regard  to  its  being  entitled  to  the  name  by  which  we  have  designated  it. 

We  had  previously  (,Toin-n.  Acad.  Nat.  Scien.,  vol.  vii.,  part.  2,  p,  349,  and 
vol.  viii.,  part  1,  p.  80)  described  a  species  from  the  West,  in  its  white  win- 
ter colour,  under  the  name  of  L.  campcstris.  We  had  no  other  knowledge  of 
its  summer  dress  than  that  given  us  by  Lewis  and  Clark.  Being  however 
informed  by  Mr.  Tovvnsend,  who  possessed  opportunities  of  ijeeing  it  in  win- 
t<'r,  that  the  present  species  never  becomes  white,  we  regarded  it  as  dis- 
tinct and  bestowed  on  it  the  above  name.  We  have  been  since  assured 
by  the  residents  of  Missouri,  that  like  the  Northern  hare,  Lcpits  Town- 
sendii  assumes  a  white  garb  in  winter,  and  it  is  therefore  probable  that 
the  name  will  yet  require  to  be  changed  to  L.  campcstris.  As,  however, 
anotluM-  hare  exists  on  the  prairies  of  the  West,  the  specific  characters  of 
which  have  not  yet  been  determined,  we  have  concluded  to  leave  it  as  i( 
stands,  supposing  it  possible  that  the  white  winter  colour  may  belong 
to  another  species. 


31 


GENUS  NEOTOMA.— Say  et  Oun. 

DENTAL    FORMULA. 

Incisive  -;  Canine  — ;  Molar  —  =  16 

Messrs.  Say  and  Ord,  who  established  this  genus,  having  given  an  ex- 
tended description  of  its  teeth,  &c.,  we  shall  present  a  poi  ion  of  it  in 
(heir  own  words. 

"  Molars,  -;dth  profound  radicles.  Superior  jaw.— Incisors  even  and 
slightly  rounded  on  their  anterior  face :  first  molar  with  five  triangles, 
one  of  which  is  anterior,  two  exterior,  and  two  interior.  Second  molar 
with  four  triangles ;  one  anterior,  two  on  the  exterior  side,  and  a  very 
small  one  on  the  interior  side  :  third  molar  with  four  triangles ;  one  an- 
terior, two  exterior,  and  a  very  minute  one,  interior. 

"Inferior  jaw.— Incisora  even,  pointed  at  top:  first  molar  with  four  di- 
visions or  triangles,  one  anterior,  a  little  irregular,  then  one  exterior,  one 
interior  opposite,  and  one  posterior :  second  molar,  with  four  triangl  Js  an- 
terior :u.d  posterior,  nearly  similar  in  form,  an  inttsrmediate  one  opposite 
to  the  interior  and  exterior  one :  third  moliir  with  two  triangles,  i,nd  an 
additional  small  angle  on  the  inner  side  of  the  anterior  one.  Tail  liuiry  ; 
fore-feet,  four  toed,  with  an  armed  rudiment  of  a  fifth  toe ;  liind-feet' 
five  toed.  ' 


i  ,] 

"I 

i 


.in 


it! 


OBSERVA'i'IONS. 

The  grinding  surface  of  the  molars  differs  somewhat  from  that  of  the 
molars  of  the  genus  Arvicola  ;  hut  fhe  large  roots  of  the  grind,;rs  consti- 
tute a  character  essentially  different.  The  folds  of  enamel  which  make 
the  sides  of  fhe  crown,  do  not  descend  so  low  as  to  the  edge  of  the  al- 
veolar i)rocesses;  in  consequence  of  this  conformation,  the  worn  down 
tooth  of  an  old  individual  must  exhibit  insulated  circles  of  enamel  on 
the  grinding  surface. 

Neotoma— Gr.  um,  {neos,)  new ;  and  r,^m,  (/cmno,)  I  cut  or  divide. 

Two  species  of  this  genus  have  been  described,  both  existing  in  North 
America. 


•1 


32 


NEOTOMA    FLORIDAN  A.— Say  et  Ord. 

Florida  Rat. 

PLATE  IV. — Male,  Female,  and  Vouno. 

N.  corj)ore  robusto,  plumbeo,  quoad  liiieani  dorsalem  nigro  mixto,  facie 
st  lateribus  fusco-llavcscentibus,  infra  albo;  cauda  corpore  paullo  cor- 
tiore,  vellere  molli. 

CHARACTERS. 

Bodij  ivhiist,  lead  colour,  mixed  mkh  black  on  the  dorsal  line ;  face  and 
sides  fcrrugiiious-ycUow,  beneath  white,  tail  a  little  shorter  than  the  body ; 
fur  soft. 

SYNONYMES. 

Mrs  Fi.oiiiiJAxus,  Ord,  Nouv.  Ihill.  dc  la  Societe  Philomatique,  1818. 
Ak\  icoi.A  Fi.oiiiDA.M.s,  liarliiii,  Fauiiii  Amer.,  p.  142. 

Godniiin,  Nut.  Hist.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  69. 
Mis  "  Say,  i.ong's  Expedition,  vol.  i.,  p.  54. 

Ni;oTo.MA  Fi.oKiDANA,  Say  et  Old,  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sciences,  Philadelphia,  vol.  iv., 

pail.  2,  p.  ;i52,  iigurc. 
NiiOTOMA  Flokidana,  Giifliths,  Animal  Kingdom,  vol.  iii.,  p.  100,  figure. 

DESCRIPTION. 

The  form  of  our  very  common  white-iboted  or  fleld-mousc  {Mus  leuco- 
piis)  may  be  ri'jiardrd  as  a  miiiialuiv  of  tliai  of  the  present  species;  it.s 
body  Ikis  an  aj)pcarance  of  lightness  and  ajjility,  bearing  some  rescm- 
l)lance  fo  tliat  of  the  squirrel ;  snout  elongated  ;  eyes  large,  resembling 
those  ol'  th(>  common  flying  scpiirrel  (/'.  rolucelhi) ;  ears  large,  prominent, 
lliin,  sub-ovate,  rlothed  so  (liinly  with  line  hair  as  to  appear  naked ;  tail 
covered  with  soil  liair;  whiskers  reaeliing  to  the  ears;  legs  robust;  toes 
annulate  ])enealh ;  ihumb,  minute;  in  the  palms  of  the  fore-feet  there 
are  live  tubercles,  and  in  the  .soles  of  the  hind-feet  six,  of  which  the  three 
posterior  are  distant  from  each  other;  nails,  concealed  by  hairs,  which 
'?xtend  considerably  beyond  them ;  mamma?,  two  before,  and  four  behind. 


COLOUR. 

Thi    I)(h1>     iiid  hiiid   air  hud-colour,    iiiterinixed   with  jellowish   and 


FLORIDA  RAT. 


33 


bmck  hair ;  the  black  preaominating  on  the  ridge  of  the  back  .ud  head 
forming  an  ind.stinct  dorsal  line  of  dark  brown,  gradually  fading  awaJ 
into  tho  brownish-yellow  colour  of  the  cheeks  and  sides ;  border  of  th« 
abdomen  and  throat,  buff;  whiskers,  white  and  black ;  feet,  white  ;  under 
surface  of  body,  white,  tinged  with  cream  colour. 

In  a  very  young  specimen,  the  colour  is  dark  brown  on  the  upper  sur- 
face, and  plumbeous  beneath;  differing  so  much  from  the  adult,  that  the 
unpractised  observer  might  easily  be  led  to  regard  it  as  a  new  species. 

DIMENSIONS. 

A.dult  Male. 

From  nose  to  root  of  tail 

Length  of  tail 

From  fore-claws  to  hind-claws,  when  stretched     - 

From  nose  to  end  of  ears 

Weight  7f  ounces.     Weight  of  an  old  Female,  8  ounces. 

Young  Male. 

From  nose  to  root  of  tail 

From  fore-claws  to  hind-claws,  when  stretched     - 

From  nose  to  end  of  ear        ... 

Length  of  tail 


8     inches. 
5}       do. 
131      do. 
do. 


2i 


5-J  inches 

H 

do. 

21 

do. 

4* 

do. 

!li| 


^  .1 


HABITS. 


1  he  specimens  from  which  we  drew  the  figures  we  have  given  on  our 
plate,  winch  represents  this  species  in  various  ages  and  attitudes  on  tho 
bnuich  of  a  pine  tree,  were  obtained  in  South  Carolina,  and  were  pre- 
served ahve  for  several  weeks  in  cages  having  wire  fronts.  They  made 
I'o  att,M,.pt  to  gnaw  their  way  out.  On  a  previous  occasion  we  preserved 
iiu  old  lemale  with  three  young  (which  latter  were  born  in  the  cage  a 
f.'w  days  after  the  mother  had  been  captured)  for  nearly  a  year;  by 
vvlu.h  tune  the  young  had  attained  tho  size  of  the  adult.  We  fed  them 
on  corn,  potatoes,  rice,  and  bread,  as  well  as  apples  and  other  fruit, 
ll.ey  seemed  very  fond  of  corn  flour,  (Indian  meal.)  and  for  several 
months  subsisted  on  the  acorns  of  the  live  oak.  {Qucrcus  virens.) 

They  became  very  gentle,  especially  one  of  them  which  was  in  a  se- 
parate  cage.  It  was  our  custom  at  dark  to  release  it  from  confinement, 
upon  which  it  would  run  around  the  room  in  circles,  mount  the  table  we' 
were  in  the  habit  ..f  writing  at,  and  always  make  ellorts  to  open  a  parti- 
filiar  .liawer  iii  ui.icli  ue  lv<>i.|  so.ur  ,.|'  iis  choieest  food. 


V 


I' 


34 


FLORIDA  RAT. 


Tliere  aro  oonsiderahle  clifTerences  in  the  habits  of  this  species  In  va 
rious  parts  of  the  United  States,  and  wc  hope  the  study  of  these  peculiari- 
ties may  interest  our  readers.  In  Florida  they  burrow  undtT  stones  and 
the  ruins  of  dilapidated  l)uildings.  In  Gcort:;ia  and  Soulli  Carolina  they 
prefer  remaining  in  the  woods.  In  some  swampy  situation  in  the  vicinity 
of  a  sluggish  stream,  amid  tnnghMl  vines  interspersed  with  leaves  and  long 
moss,  they  gather  a  heap  of  dry  sticlis  which  they  pile  up  into  a  conical 
shape,  and  which,  witli  grasses,  mud,  and  dead  leaves,  mixed  in  by  the 
wind  and  rain,  forms,  as  they  proceed,  a  structure  impervious  to  rain,  and 
inaccessible  to  the  wild-cat,  racoon,  or  fox.  At  other  times,  their  nest, 
composed  of  somewhat  lighter  materials,  is  placed  in  the  fork  (branch) 
of  a  tree. 

About  fifteen  years  ago,  on  a  visit  to  the  grave-yard  of  the  church  at 
Ebenezer,  Georgia,  we  were  struck  with  the  appearance  of  several  very 
large  nests  near  the  tops  of  some  tall  evergreen  oaks  {Qnercus  aqiiati- 
ciis)  ;  on  disturbing  the  ni  />ts,  we  discovered  them  to  be  inhabited  by  a 
number  of  Florida  rats  of  all  sizes,  some  of  which  descended  rapidly  to 
the  ground,  whilst  others  escaped  to  the  highest  branches,  where  they 
were  concealed  among  the  leaves.  These  nests  in  certain  situations  are 
of  enormous  size.  We  have  observed  some  of  them  on  trees,  at  a  height 
of  from  ten  to  twenty  fet^t  from  the  ground,  where  wild  vines  had  made 
a  tangled  mass  over  heiid,  which  appeared  to  r.o  larger  tliau  a  cart 
wheel  and  contained  a  mass  of  leaves  and  sticks  that  would  have  more 
thiui  iilled  a  l)arrel. 

Those  specimens,  however,  which  we  procured  on  our  journey  up  the 
Missouri  river,  were  all  caught  in  the  hollows  of  trees  which  were  cut 
down  by  the  crew,  as  we  proceeded,  for  iuel  for  our  steamer.  Lewis  and 
Ci.ARK,  in  their  memorable  journey  across  the  Rocky  Mountains,  found 
Ihein  nestling  among  clefts  in  the  rocks,  and  also  in  hollow  trees.  In 
this  region  they  appeared  to  be  in  the  habit  of  feeding  on  the  prickly  pear 
or  Indian  tig,  {CacUis  opuiUia,)  the  travellers  having  found  large  quanti- 
ties of  seeds  and  remnants  of  those  plants  in  their  nests.  In  the  Floridas, 
Mr.  Pautram  also  Ibund  this  species.  He  says,  "  they  are  singular  with 
respect  to  their  ingenuity  and  great  labour  in  the  construction  of  their 
habitations,  which  are  conical  pyramids  about  three  feet  high,  construct- 
ed with  dry  branches  which  they  collect  with  great  labour  and  persever- 
ance and  pile  up  without  any  apparent  order;  yet  they  are  so  interwoven 
with  one  another  that  it  would  take  a  Ix^ar  or  wild  cat  some  time  to  pull 
one  of  these  castles  to  pieces,  and  allow  the  animals  snllieient  time  to  se* 
cure  a  retreat  with  their  young." 

This  is  a  very  active  rat,  and  in  asccMiding  tre(!S,  exhibits  much  of  the 


FLORIDA  RAT. 


35 


ugility  of  the  squirrel,  although  we  do  not  recollect  having  observed  it 
leaping  from  branch  to  branch  m  the  manner  of  that  genus, 

Tlie  Florida  rat  is,  in  Carolina,  a  very  harmless  species  ;  the  only  de- 
predation  we  have  known  it  to  commit,  was  an  occasional  inroad  on  the 
corn.Hftlds  when  the  grain  was  yet  j-uicy  and  sweet.  We  have  seen 
several  whole  ears  of  Indian  corn  taken  from  one  of  th<>ir  nests,  into  which 
they  had  been  dragged  by  these  animals  the  previous  night.  They  appear 
also  to  be  very  fond  of  the  Chinquapin  {Castania  puinila),  and  we  have 
sometimes  observed  around  their  nests  traces  of  their  having  ied  on  frogs 
and  cray-fish. 

This  sppcies  is  nocturnal,  or  at  least  crepuscular,  in  its  habits.  In  pro- 
curing  specimens  we  were  only  successful  when  the  traps  had  been  set 
over  mght.  Those  we  had  in  captivity  scarcely  ever  left  their  dark 
chambers  till  after  sunset,  when  they  came  forth  from  their  dormitories 
and  continued  playful  and  active  during  a  great  part  of  the  night.  They 
were  mild  in  their  dispositions,  and  much  less  disposed  to  bite  when  pur- 
sued  than  tlie  common  and  more  mischievous  Norway  rat. 

Whilst  the  young  are  small  they  cling  to  the  teats  of  the  mother,  who 
runs  about  with  them  occasionally  without  much  apparent  inconvenience; 
and  even  when  older,  they  still,  when  she  is  about  to  travel  quickly,  cling 
to  her  sides  or  her  back.  Thus  on  a  visit  from  home,  she  may  be  said 
to  carry  her  little  family  with  her,  and  is  always  ready  to  defend  them 
even  at  the  risk  of  her  life.  We  once  heard  a  gratifying  and  affecting 
anecdote  ol  the  attachment  to  its  young,  manifested  by  one  of  this  species 
which  we  will  here  relate  as  an  evidenc-  that  in  some  oases  we  may 
learn  a  valuable  lesson  ft-om  the  instincts  of  the  brute  creation. 

Our  friend  Ga.l,.ard  Stoxkv  Esq.,  sent  us  an  old  and  a  young  Florida  rat, 
obta.ned  under  the  fbllowing  circumstances.  A  terrier  was  seen  in  pur- 
suit  of  a  rat  of  this  species,  followed  by  two  young  about  a  third  grown. 
He  had  already  killed  one  of  these,  when  the  mother  sprang  forward  and 
sc.zed  the  other  in  her  mouth,  although  only  a  few  feet  from  her  relent- 
less  enemy-hastened  through  a  fence  which  for  a  moment  protected  her 
and  retre.-tted  into  her  burrow.  They  were  dug  out  of  the  ground  and 
sont  to  us  alive.  We  ob.s.n-ved  that  for  many  months  the  resting  place 
of  the  young  during  the  day  was  on  the  back  of  its  mother. 

From  thr,-e  to  six  are  produced  at  a  litter,  by  this  species,  which  breeds 
generally  twice  a  year;  we  have  seen  the  young  so  frequently  in  March 
ami  August,  that  we  are  inclined  to  the  belief  that  these  are  the  periods 
of  their  reproduction.  We  have  never  heard  them  making  any  otlier 
noise  than  a  D.int  squeak,  somewhat  resembling  that  of  the  brown  rat. 
Tf.e  very  playful   character  of  this  species,  its  cleanly  habits,  its  mild, 


Hi 


;. 


36 


FLORIDA  RAT. 


promiiKMjt,  and  hriglit  eyes,  together  with  its  fine  form  and  easy  susoep. 
tibility  of  domestication,  would  render  it  a  lar  more  interesting  pet  than 
many  others  that  the  caprice  of  man  has  from  time  to  time  induced  him 
to 'select. 


GEOGRAPHIC  VL    DISTRIBUTION. 

This  species  is  very  widely  scattered  through  the  country.  It  was 
brought  from  East  Florida  by  Mr.  Ord,  in  1818,  but  not  published  until 
1825.  It  was  tlien  supposed  by  him  to  be  peculiar  to  Florida,  and  re- 
ceived its  specific  name  from  that  circumstance.  Wc  had,  however,  ob- 
tained a  number  of  specimens,  both  of  this  species  and  the  cotton  rat, 
{Sig7nodon  hispidum,)  in  181(5,  in  South  Carolina,  where  they  are  very 
abundant.  In  Louisiana,  Georgia,  Alabama,  Mississippi,  Missouri,  and 
the  former  States,  it  is  a  common  species.  Its  numbers  diminish  greatly 
as  we  travel  eastward.  In  North  Carolina  some  specimens  of  it  have 
been  obtained.  We  observed  a  few  nests  among  the  valleys  of  the  Vir- 
ginia mountains ;  farther  north  we  have  not  personally  traced  it,  although 
we  have  somewhere  heard  it  stated  that  one  or  two  had  been  captured 
as  far  to  the  north  as  Maryland. 

GENERAL  REMARKS. 

On  a  farther  examination  of  Bartram's  work,  which  is  also  referred  to 
by  GoDMAN  (Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ii.,  ]>.  21),  wc  find  his  descriptions  of  the 
habits  of  this  species  very  accurate  ;  the  first  part  of  that  article,  how- 
ever, quoted  by  Dr.  Godman,  is  evidently  incorrect.  "  The  wood  rat," 
says  Bartram,  "  is  a  very  curious  animal ;  they  are  noi  half  the  size  of 
fhe  domestic  rat,  of  a  dark  brown  or  black  colour;  thin  tail,  slender  and 
shorter  in  proportion,  and  covered  thinly  with  short  hair."  The  error  of 
Bartram,  in  describing  one  species,  and  applying  to  it  the  habits  of  an- 
other,  seems  to  have  escaped  the  observation  of  Dr.  Godman.  The  cotton 
rat,  or  as  it  is  generally  called,  wood  rat  {Sig-tmdon  hisjndum),  answers 
this  description  of  Bartram,  in  its  size,  colour,  and  tail ;  but  it  does  not 
build  "conical  pyramids ;"  this  is  the  work  of  a  much  larger  and  very  dif- 
ferent species— the  Florida  rat  of  this  article. 

The  adoption  of  the  genus  Neotoma,  when  proposed  by  Say  and  Ord, 
was  met  with  considerable  opposition  by  naturalists  of  that  day,  and 
some  severe  strictures  were  passed  upon  it  i)y  Drs.  Harlan  and  Godman. 
(See  Harlan,  p.  1 1.*},  Godman,  vol.  ii.,  p.  72.)  They  contended  that  the 
variations  in  the  teeth  that  separated  tl'is  species  from  Mus  and  Arvicola, 
were  not  sufllcient  to  establish  genuine  distinctions. 

INIore  recently  naturalists  have,  ho'-vevcr,  examined  the  subject  calmly 


FLORIDA  HAT. 


37 


and  considerately.  It  is  .  rtain  that  this  genus  cannot  be  arranged  either 
under  Arvicola  or  Mas,  without  enlarging  (he  characters  of  one  or  the 
other  of  these  g,  iiera.  Another  species,  Irom  the  Rocky  Mountains,  has 
been  rliscovered  by  Dr.  Richardson,  {Neotoma  Drummondu,)  and  wo'  feel 
pretty  coniident  tliat  the  genus  will  be  generally  adopted. 


38 


GENUS   SClUllUS.  — Linn.,  Erxleb.,  Cuv.,  Geoff.,  Iluozb- 

Dental  Formula. 

,..8       „.      0-0      ,r  1     *-*       *-*       c^         «„ 
Incisive  -  :    Canine  — ;   Molar  —  or  — -  =  20  or  22. 

}»'  0-0  ♦-4  4-4 

Body  elongated ;  tail  long  and  furnished  with  hairs ;  head  large ;  ears 
erect ;  eyes  projecting  and  l)rilliant ;  upper  lip  divided.  Four  toes  before, 
with  a  tubercle  covered  by  a  blunt  nail ;  five  toes  behind.  The  four 
grinders,  on  each  side  the  mouth  above  and  beneath,  are  variously  tubcr- 
culated ;  a  very  small  additional  one  in  front,  above,  is  in  some  species 
permanent,  but  in  most  cases  uiops  out  when  the  young  have  attained  the 
age  of  from  six  to  twelve  wee)cs.  Mammae,  eight ;  two  pectoral,  the 
others  abdominal. 

The  squirrel  is  admirably  adapted  to  a  residence  on  trees,  for  which 
nature  has  designed  it.  Its  fingers  are  long  slender  and  deeply  cleft,  and 
its  nails  very  acute  and  greatly  compressed ;  it  is  enabled  to  leap  from 
branch  to  branch  and  from  tree  to  tree,  clinging  to  the  smallest  twigs, 
and  seldom  missing  its  hold.  When  this  happens  to  be  the  case,  it  has 
an  instinctive  habit  of  grasping  in  itjfs  descent  at  the  first  object  ■\\  liich 
may  present  itself ;  or  if  about  to  fall  to  the  earth,  it  spreads  itself  out  in 
the  manner  of  the  flying  squir'-ei,  and  thus  by  ;  !osenting  a  greater  resist- 
ance to  the  air  is  enabied  to  reach  the  ground  without  injury  and  recover 
itself  so  instantaneously,  that  it  often  escapes  the  teeth  of  the  dog  that 
watches  its  descent  and  stands  ready  to  seize  upon  it  at  the  moment  of  its 
fall.  It  immediately  ascends  a  neighbouring  tree,  emitting  very  frequently 
a  querulous  bark,  wh'  '  is  either  a  note  of  fear  or  of  triumph. 

Although  the  squirrel  moves  with  considerable  activity  on  the  ground, 
it  rather  runs  than  leaps;  on  trees,  however,  its  activity  and  agility  are 
surprising,  and  it  is  generally  able  to  escape  from  its  enemies  and  conceal 
itself  in  a  few  moments,  either  among  the  thick  foliage,  in  its  nest,  or  in 
a  hollow  tree.  The  squirrel  usually  conveys  its  food  to  the  mouth  by  the 
fore-paws.  Nuts,  and  seeds  of  all  kinds,  are  hekl  by  it  between  the  rudi- 
montal  thumbs  and  the  inner  portions  of  the  palms.  When  disturbed  or 
alarnnd,  it  either  drops  the  nut  and  makes  a  rapid  retreat,  or  seizes  it 
with  the  incisors,  and  carries  it  to  its  hole  or  nest. 

All  American  >;  tcies  of  this  genus,  as  far  as  we  have  been  able  to 


GENUi  SClURrJS. 


39 


become  acquainted  with  their  habits,  build  their  nests  either  in  the  fork 
of  a  tree,  or  on  some  secure  portion  of  its  branches.  The  nest  is  hemi- 
spherical  m  shape,  and  is  composed  of  sticks,  leaves,  the  bark  of  trees 
and  vanous  kinds  of  mosses  and  lichens.  In  the  vicinity  of  these  nests' 
however  they  have  a  still  more  secure  retreat  in  some  hollow  tree  to' 
which  they  retire  in  cold  or  in  very  wet  weather,  and  where  their  first 
litter  of  young  is  generally  produced. 

Several  species  of  squirrels  collect  and  hide  away  food  during  the  abun- 
Jant  season  of  autunm,  to  serve  as  a  winter  store.     This  hoard  is  com- 
posed of  vanous  kinds  of  walnuts  and  hickory  nuts,  chesnuts,  chinque- 
pins,  acorns,  corn,  &c.,  which  may  be  found  in  their  vicinity.     The  spe 
cies,  however,  that  inhabit  the  Southern  portions  of  the  United  States 
where   he  ground  IS  seldom  covered  with  snow,  and  where  they  can  al' 
ways  derive  a  precarious  support  from  the  seeds,  insects,  and  worms 
which  they  scratch  up  among  the  leaves,  &c.,  are  less  provident  in  this 
respect;  and  of  all  our  species,  the  chickaree,  or  Hudson's  Bay  squirrel 

t^7Zl. ''  ''  '''  '''  -'  ^-'-^^^-  -'  '^>-«  "P  ^^«  -ates; 
In  the  spring  the  squirrels  shed  their  hair,  which  is  replaced  by  a  thin- 
ner  and  less  furry  coat;  during  smnmer  their  tails  are  narrower  and  less 
feathery  than  in  autumn,  when  they  either  receive  an  entirely  new  coat  or 
a  very  great  accession  of  fur;  at  this  season  also,  the  outer  surfaces' of 
f he  ears  are  more  thicldy  and  prominently  clothed  with  fur  than  in  the 
.s|)riiig  and  summer. 

Squirrels  are  notorious  depredators  on  the  Indian-corn  fields  of  the  far- 
mer, m  some  portions  of  our  country,  consuming  great  quantities  of  this 
gram,  and  by  tearing  off  the  husks  exposing  an  immense  number  of  the 
unnpe  ears  to  the  mouldering  influence  of  the  dew  and  rain 

The  usual  note  emitted  by  this  genus  is  a  kind  of  tremulous,  querulous 
bark,  not  very  unlike  the  quacking  of  a  duck.     Although  all  our  larger 
squirrels  have  shades  of  difference  in  their  notes  which  will  enable  The 
pmetised  ear  to  designate  the  species  even  before  they  are  seen,  yet  this 
dillerence  cannot  easily  be  described  by  words.     Their  bark  seems  to  be 
the  repetition  of  a  syllable  five  or  six  times,  quack-quack-quaek-quack- 
qua-eoinmencmg  low,  gradually  raising  to  a  higher  pitch,  and  endin^ 
with  a  draw    on  the  last  letter  in  the  syllable.     The  notes,  however,  ^f 
he  smaUer  Hudson's  Bay  squirrel  nnd  i.s  kindred  species  existing  on  the 
Kooky  M„untnu,s,  ,li,|er  eo.isiderably  fVom  those  of  the  larger  s.purrels  ; 
•hey  are  sharper,  more  rapidly  uttered,  and  of  longer  continuance;  seem- 
....  ...ermediate  between  ,he  bark  of  the  latter  and  the  chipping  calls  of 

the  .,<Hind.sqmrrels.  (T  ui,..)     The  barkh.g  of  .he  squirrel  mav^-  hear. 


ml 


40 


GENUS  SCIURUS. 


occasionally  in  the  forests  durinj?  all  hours  of  the  day,  but  is  uttered  most 
frc(}nenfly  ii)  ihr  morning  and  afternoon.  Any  sudden  noise  in  the  woods, 
or  ihr  (li^iinit  I'tport  of  a  jjun,  is  almost  certain,  durinjr  fine  weather,  to  be 
.succcfdid  by  the  barkinj^  of  the  siiniriol.  This  is  either  a  note  of  playful- 
ness or  of  love.  Whilst  barkiiiir  it  seats  itself  for  a  few  moments  on  a 
branch  ol'  a  tree,  elevates  its  tail  over  its  back  towards  the  head,  .ind  bend- 
ing the  point  backwards  continues  to  jerk  its  body  and  elevate  and  depress 
the  tail  at  tiie  repetition  of  rach  successive  note.  Like  the  mocking  biid 
and  the  ui^^htingalr,  however,  the  squirrel,  very  socu  after  he  I  gins  to  sing, 
(for  to  his  own  ear,  at  least,  his  voice  must  be  musical,)  also  commences 
skij)ping  and  dancing ;  he  leaps  playfully  from  bough  to  bough,  some- 
times pursuing  ;i  rival  or  his  mate  for  a  few  moments,  and  then  reiterat- 
ing with  renewed  vigour  his  <iuerulous  and  monotonous  notes. 

One  of  the  most  common  habits  of  the  squirrel  is  that  ol  dodging  around 
the  tree  Avhen  approached,  and  keeping  on  the  opposite  side  so  as  to 
comi)letcly  bafile  the  hunter  who  is  alone.  Hence  it  is  almost  essential 
to  the  sportsman's  success  that  he  should  be  accompanied  by  a  seoiul 
person,  who,  by  \\alldng  slowly  round  the  tree  on  which  the  squirrel 
has  been  seen  beating  the  bushes  and  making  a  good  deal  of  noise, 
causes  him  to  move  to  the  side  where  the  gunner  is  silently  stationed 
wailing  I'or  a  view  of  him  to  fire.  When  a  squirrel  is  seated  on  a  branch 
and  fancies  himself  undiscovered,  wliould  some  one  approach  he  imme- 
(lialely  (l('i)n'sses  his  tail,  and  extiMidiug  it  along  the  branch  behind  him, 
presses  his  l)0(ly  so  closely  to  the  bark  that  he  frecpiently  escapes  the^ 
most  practised  eye.  Notwithstanding  the  agility  of  these  animals,  man  is 
not  tlicir  only  nor  even  their  most  fotiMidable  enemy.  The  owl  makes  a 
frequent  meal  of  those  sjiecies  which  continue  to  seek  thi  ir  food  late  in 
thf  evening  and  early  in  the  morning.  Several  species  of  hawks,  espe- 
cially the  red-tail<  d  {Buteo  borcalis),  and  the  red-shouldered  (Btitco  line- 
(iliis).  j)ounce  upon  them  by  day.  The  black  snake,  rattle  snake,  and 
other  species  of  snakes,  can  secure  them;  and  the  ermine,  the  U.x,  and  the 
wild  cat,  are  incessantly  exerting  their  sagacity  in  lessening  their  num- 
bers. 

The  generic  name  Sciurus  is  derived  from  the  Latin  sciunis,  a  squirrel, 
and  from  the  Gr(>ek  Txtcvpot  {xlciouros),  from  inna  (sjda),  a  shade,  and  ot-^n 
(oitrti),  a  tail. 

There  are  between  sixty  and  seventy  species  of  this  genus  known  to 
authors;  about  twenty  well  determined  species  exist  in  North  America 


41 


bCIlRUS    RICHARDSONII._Rach. 

RiuHARDt'ON's  Columbian  SutTiRHRi.. 
PIATE      —Male  and  Female. 

S.  c.udacorporebreviorc,  apice  nigro;  supra  griseu8,  subtus  sub-albi- 
nus,  cs.  Hudsoiuco  minor. 


CHARACTERS. 


I^mallcr  than  Sciurus  Hudsonius ;  tail  shorter  than  the  body;  rusty  gray 
aho"\  whitish  beneath:  extrptniti,  nf  fhr  tnil  hlr.^1. 


beneath ;  extremity  of  the  tail  black. 


SYNON  'MES. 

BuowN  Squirrul,  Lewis  ana  (  larke,  vol.  iii.,  p.  37. 

SciuHus  llvmomm,  var.  B.  Riclumlson,  Fauna  Boreuli  Americana,  n  190 

ScrRfB  liici.AnnsoNi,.  Baclunan.  Proceedings  Zool.  Soc,    LondcH,,    1838,    (read 

Aug.  1  1.  1838.)  ^ 

Sfiuiius  RicHAKDSONii,  Bucli.,  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  London,  new  series,  1839,  p  113 
"  "  Bach.,  Silliman's  Journal. 

DESCRIPTION. 

The  upper  incisors  are  small  and  of  a  light  yellow  .lour ;  the  lower 
are  very  thin  and  slender,  iid  nearly  white.  The  firsi  •  deciduous  mo- 
lar,  jis  in  all  the  smaller  sp.>cieb  of  pine  squirrel  that  we  have  examined, 
is  \\anting. 

The  body  of  this  diminutive  species  is  short,  and  does  not  presei  that 
appearance  of  lightness  and  agility  which  distin  uishes  the  Sciuru  iind- 
mnius.  Head  less  elongated,  fordicad  more  ar<>hed,  and  nose  a  Imle 
more  blunt,  than  in  th  ,t  .species.  Ears  short;  feet  of  noderate  size; 
the  third  t(.e  ou  the  fore-feet  but  slightly  l,„ger  than  the  second  .laws, 
compressed,  arched,  an-i  acute;  tail  shorter  th.  the  bod)  rhumb 
nail  broad,  flat,  and  blui... 

coLotm. 

Fur  on  the  back,    dark  plumbeous  from  the  roots,   tipp.  T  with  ru-'tv 
hro^v„  and  black,   riving  it  a  rusty  gray  a,  pearance.     It  is  loss  rufou 
fhan    Si^mrus  Hudsonius,    and  lighter  coloured  than  Sciurus  Douglasxn 


4'2 


ItKUrVllDSON'S  COLUMBIAN  SQUIUUKL. 


Feet,  on  tlioir  upper  surface  rulbus;  on  tlie  shoulders,  lorehead,  ears,  aiio 
aloug  the  thighs,  there  is  a  sli<,'lit  tiii^je  of  the  aatiie  colour.  Whiskers 
(wliich  are  a  little  lou<,'('r  than  the,  lie  id,)  black.  The  whole  of  the  under 
surfiice,  as  well  as  a  line  aroutid  the  eyes  and  a  small  patch  ahove  ihc 
nostrils,  hluish-gray.  The  tail  for  al)(>ut  one-half  its  len^'th  presents  oii 
the  upptu-  surface  a  dark  rufous  appearance,  many  of  the  hairs  bemt; 
nearly  black,  pointed  with  light  rufous.  At  the  extremity  of  the  tail 
and  along  it  for  about  an  inch  and  three-quarters,  the  hjiirs  are  black,  a 
few  of  them  sii^'htly  tipped  with  rufous.  Ilind-fcet,  from  the  heel  to  the 
palms  thickly  clothed  with  short  adpressed  light-coloured  hairs;  palms 
naked.  The  sides  are  marked  by  a  line  of  black,  eonnuencing  at  the 
shoulder  and  terminating  abruptly  on  the  flanks;  this  line  is  about  two 
inches  in  length,  and  four  lines  wide. 


DIMENSIONS. 


Length  of  head  and  body     • 
Tail  (vertebra') 
Do.,  including  fur 
Height  of  ear  posteriorly     • 

Do.,     including  fur 
Palm  and  middle  fore-claw 
Sole  and  middle  hind-claw 


c>\ 

inches, 

«l 

do. 

5 

do. 

H 

do. 

do. 

la 

do. 

ii 

UU. 

HABITS. 

The  only  knowledge  we  have  obtained  of  the  habits  of  this  species,  is 
contained  in  a  note  from  Mr.  Townsend,  who  obtained  the  specimen  from 
which  the  aliove  description  was  taken.  He  remarks:  "It  is  evidently 
a  distinct  species.  Its  habits  are  very  dilferent  irom  the  Scliirus  lliul- 
soniu.i.  It  frequents  the  pine  trees  in  the  high  ranges  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains  weft  of  the  Great  Chain,  feeding  upon  the  seeds  contained  in 
the  cones.  These  seeds  arc  large  and  white,  and  contain  a  good  deal  of 
nutriment.     The  Indians  eat  a  great  quantity  of  them,  and  esteem  them. 

good. 

"The  note  of  this  squirrel  is  a  loud  jarring  chatter,  I'ery  different  from 
the  noise  of  Sciurus  Hudxonius.  It  is  not  at  all  shy,  frequently  coming 
down  to  the  foot  of  the  tree  to  reconnoitre  the  passenger,  and  scolding 
at  him  vociferously.     It  is,  I  think,  a  scarce  species." 


GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIllUTION. 


Lewis   and  Clark  speak  of  the  "Brown  Squirrel"    as  inhabiting  the 
banks  of  the  Columbia  river.     Our  specimen  is  labelled,   lioeky  Moun 


RICHARDSON  S  COLl'Mh  AN  SQUIRREL. 


43 


tains,  Aug.  Vi,  lH3i.  Fr,„n  Mr.  Tovvnhf.m.'h  nvcmnt,  it  exists  on  the 
11)^.  iiitm.is  ii  little  west  of  the  i.ifrh,,st  rj.lge.  h  will  be  Ibuiui  no  doubt 
to  havci  a  i  extensive  mnge  along  tiiosc  elevated  regions. 

'n  tijc     'u-ssirui  j)ossessions   to   the  Northward,   it   is   replaced  by  the. 
.V  v?,v  '^'^    irrel,  {Sc.  humginums,)  and  in  the  South,  near  the  Calilbrnian 
?roun|.  -IS,    within   the   Territories   of    the    United   States,    by   another 
small  species. 


GENERAL  REMARKS. 

The  first  account  we  have  of  this  species  is  from  Lewis  and  Clark, 
who  deposited  a  specimen  in  the  Philadelphia  Museum,  where  it  still 
exists.  We  have  compared  this  spcci.neii  wilh  thr.t  brought  by  Mr 
TovvNSEND,  an,]  (i,„!  ,!,..„,  identical.  Tl.e  description  by  Lews  and  Clark 
(vol.  UL,  p.  HI)  IS  v.My  creditable  to  the  clo.sc  observation  and  accuracy 
of  lh..s..  early  explorers  of  the  untrodden  snows  of  the  Rocky  Mountains 
and  the  valleys  beyond,  to  Oregon. 

"The  small  brown  S.purrel,"  they  say,  "is  a  beautiful  little  animal 
about  the  size  and  ll.rm  of  the  red  squirrel  (.Sc.  Iludsonius)  of  the  Atlantic' 
8lnt,.s  and  W.-stern  lakes.  The  tail  is  as  long  as  the  body  and  neck,  and 
formed  like  that  of  the  red  s.purrel;  the  eves  an,  black;  the  whiskers 
long  and  black,  but  not  abundant ;  the  back,  sides,  head,  neck,  and  outer 
parts  of  the  legs,  are  of  a  reddish  brown;  the  throat,  breast,  belly  and 
inner  parts  of  the  legs,  are  of  a  pale  red;  the  tail  is  a  mixture  of  black 
and  tox-coloured  red,  in  which  the  black  j.redominates  i.i  the  middle  and 
the  red  <..i  the  edges  a.ul  extremity.  The  hair  of  the  body  is  almost'  half 
■"'  in.li  long,  and  so  fine  and  soft  that  it  has  the  appearance  of  fur.  The 
I'MH-  ol  the  tail  is  coarser  and  double  in  length.  This  animal  subsists 
chiedy  on  the  seeds  of  various  species  of  „ine  and  is  always  found  in  the 
pine  country." 

Dr.  RicMAui.soN,  who  had  not  seen  a  specimen,  copied  in  his  excellent 
^york,  {F<„u,u  liorroli  Americana,  p.  10,)  the  description  of  Lewis  and 
Clark  Irom  which  he  supposed  this  species  to  be  a  mere  variety  of  the 
S<:  H,uls,.„u.s:  We  had  subse,,u,.ntly  an  opportunity  of  submitting  a 
s|.ecuneu  to  his  inspection,  when  he  immediately  became  convinced  it 
was  a  diilerent  species. 

The  diin-rence  between  these  two  species  can  indeed  be  detected  at  a 
glanc,,  by  comparing  specimens  of  each  together.  The  present  .species 
HI  addition  to  its  being  a  fourth  smaller,-about  the  si.e  of  our  little' 
clupp.r.g  s,iuirrel  {Tamias  Ay,sVo-/)-has  less  of  the  reddish  brown  on  the 
upp.|r  surl.ace,  and  may  always  be  distinguished  from  the  other  by  the 
blackness  ot  its  tail  at  the  extremity. 


44 


GENUS  VULPES.  — Cuv. 


DENTAL    FORMULA, 


Incisive  - ;   Canine  — ;   Molar  —  =  42. 

8  1— I  7—7 

Muzzle  pointed  ;  pupils  of  the  eyes  forming  a  vertical  fissure  ;  uppei 
incisors  less  curved  than  in  the  Genus  Canis.  Tail  long,  bushy,  and  cy. 
lindrical. 

Animals  of  this  genus  generally  are  smaller,  and  the  number  of  spe. 
cies  known  greater,  than  among  the  wolves  ;  they  diffuse  a  foetid  odour 
dig  burrows,  and  attack  none  but  the  weaker  quadrupeds  or  birds,  &c. 

The  characters  of  this  genus  differ  so  slightly  from  those  of  the  genuf- 
Cams,  that  we  were  induced  to  pause  before  removing  it  from  the  sub- 
genus in  which  it  had  so  long  remained.  As  a  general  rule,  we  are 
obliged  to  admit  that  a  large  fox  is  a  wolf,  and  a  small  wolf  may  be 
termed  a  fox.  So  inconveniently  large,  however,  is  the  list  of  species  in 
the  old  genus  Canis,  that  it  is,  we  think,  advisable  to  separate  into  dis 
tinct  groups,  such  species  as  possess  any  characters  different  from  the 
true  Wolves. 

Foxes,  althcugh  occasionally  seen  abroad  during  the  day,  are  nocturnal 
in  their  habits,  and  their  character  is  marked  by  timidity,  suspicion  and 
cunning.  Nearly  the  whole  day  is  passed  by  the  Fox  in  concealment, 
either  in  his  burrow  under  ground,  in  the  fissures  of  the  rocks,  or  in  the 
middle  of  some  large  fallen-tree-top,  or  thick  pile  of  brush- wood,  where 
ho  is  well  hidden  from  any  passing  enemy. 

During  the  obscurity  of  late  twilight,  or  in  the  darkness  cA'  night,  he 
.sallies  forth  in  search  of  food  ;  the  acutcness  of  his  organs  of  sight,  of 
smell,  and  of  hearing,  enabling  him  in  the  most  murky  atmosphere  to 
trace  and  follow  the  footsteps  of  small  quadrupeds  or  birds,  and  pounce 
upon  the  hare  seated  in  her  form,  or  the  partridge,  grouse,  or  turkey  on 
their  nests. 

Various  .species  of  squirrels,  field-rats,  and  moles,  afford  him  a  rich  re- 
past. He  often  causes  great  devastation  in  the  poultry  yard ;  seizes  on 
the  goose  whilst  grazing  along  the  banks  of  the  stream,  or  carries  off  the 
Iamb  from  the  side  of  its  motlier. 

The  cautious  and  wary  character  of  the  Fox,  renders  it  excee<lingly 


AMERICAN  CROSS  FOX. 


46 


difficult  to  take  him  in  a  trap  of  any  kind.  He  eln.des  the  snaros  laid  for 
him.  and  generally  disco^-er.s  and  avoids  the  steel-trap,  however  carefully 
covered  with  brush-wood  or  grasses.  ^ 

In  tl.e  Northern  States,  swch  as  Pennsylvania  and  New-York,  and  in 
New  England,  the  rutting  season  of  the  Fox  commences  in  the  month  of 

February.  During  this  period  he  issues  a  succession  of  rapid  yells,  like 
he  quick  and  sharp  barking  of  a  small  dog.     Gestation  conJinues  from  60 

to  65  days.     The  cubs  are  from  5  to  9  in  number,  and  like  young  puppie^ 

are  born  with  h,^ir  and  are  blind  at  birth.     They  leave 'theii   burrows 

generally  when  three  or  four  months  old,  and  in  all  predatory  expedition. 

each  inclividual  goes  singly,  and  plunders  on  his  own  account,  and  fo 

his  own  especial  benefit. 
The  Generic  name  is  derived  from  the  Latin  word  vulpes,  a  Fox 
There  are  about  twelve  well-known  species  belonging  to  this  genus 

—four  of  which  exist  in  North  America. 


VULPES    FULVUS.-De.,,:  var.   Dccussa!„s.-P^,,,„. 

AMERICAN  Cross  Fox. 
PLATE  VL-Malk. 

V  eruce  nigra  supra  humeros,  subtus  linea  longitudinali  nigra,  auribus 
ptdibusque  nigns. 

CHARACTERS. 

A  cross  on  the  neck  and  shoulders,  and  a  longitudinal  stripe  on  the  nnne, 
surface,  black  ;  ears  and  feet  black. 

SYNONVMES. 

Ren'ard  Barue,  Tsinantontonguo,  Snjr«rd  Thoodat.,  Canada,  p  745 
Er,uM.KAN  C.osH  Fox,  var.  H  .  C.-oss  Fox.  Pennant.  Arct.,  ZoJ..  voi.  i.,  p.  46. 
Cams  DKia'ssAics,  Geoff.,  0,.ll.  du  Mus.  ^ 

Canis  Fulvus,  Sabine,  Fianklin's  .[ourniil,  p.  650. 

var.  B..  (decussatus)  Ricli.,  Fauna  Boreali  Americana,  p.  m. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form,  n^rrees  in  every  particular  with  that  of  the  common  red  fox    (V 
f^^^ns^     Fur.  rather  thick  and  long,  but  not  thicker  or  more  elongated 
than  ,n  many  specimens  of  the  red  fox  that  w,  have  examined,     .^nles  of 


i 


46 


AMERICAN  CROSS  FOX. 


the  feet  densely  clothed  with  short  woolly  hair,  so  that  the  callous  spots 
at  the  roots  of  the  nails  are  scarcely  visible.  A  black  longitudinal  stripe, 
more  or  less  distinct,  on  the  under  surface. 


COLOUR. 


Front  of  the  head,  and  back,  dark  gray ;  the  hairs  being  black  at  tht 
roots,  yellowish  white  near  the  ends,  and  but  slightly  tipped  with  black 
so  that  the  light  colour  of  the  under  part  of  each  hair  showing  through, 
gives  the  surface  a  gray  tint;  with  these  Jiairs  a  few  others  are  mixed 
that  are  black  throughout  their  whole  length. 

The  soft  fur  beneath  these  long  hairs  is  of  a  brownish  black.  Inner 
surfoce  of  ears,  and  sides  of  the  neck  from  the  chin  to  the  shoulders,  pale 
reddish  yellow ;  sides,  behind  the  shoulders  towards  the  top  of  the  back, 
slightly  ferruginous;  under  surface,  to  the  thiijhs,  haunches,  and  under 
part  of  the  root  of  tail,  pale  ferruginous.  I'ur  underneath  llie  long  hair, 
yellowish.  Tail  dark  brown  ;  fur  beneath,  reddisli  yellow ;  the  long  hairs, 
yellowish  at  base,  tmmdly  tipped  with  black;  at  the  extremity  of  the  tail  a 
small  tuft  of  whit*;  hair.  Nose,  outer  surface  of  ear,  chin,  throat,  and 
chest,  black.  A  line  along  the  under  surface  for  half  its  length,  and 
broadest  at  its  termination,  black ;  a  i'ew  white  hairs  intermixed,  but  ntH 
a  sufficient  luimber  to  alter  the  general  colour.  The  yellowish  tint  m 
each  side  of  the  neck  and  behind  the  shoulders,  is  divided  by  a  longitudi- 
nal d.-irk  brown  liand  on  the  hack,  crossed  at  right  angles  by  another  run- 
ning over  the  slioukl(>rs  and  extendiiig  over  the  fore-legs,  Ibrming  a  cross. 
There  is  another  cross,  yet  more  distinctly  marked,  upon  the  chest ;  a 
black  stripe,  extending  downward  from  the  throat  towards  the  belly,  being 
intersected  by  another  black  line,  which  reaches  over  the  chest  from  the 
inside  of  one  ibrc-leg  to  tlie  other.  Hence,  tlu^  name  of  this  animal  does 
not  originate  in  its  ill-nature,  or  by  reason  of  its  hiiving  any  peculiarly 
savage  propensity,  as  might  be  presumed,  but  from  the  singular  markings 
we  have  just  described. 


DIMENSIONS. 


Adult  Male. 

From  nose  to  root  of  tail 
Tail,  (vcrtebne) 
Tail,  lo  end  of  h'  .r 
From  nose  to  end  of  ear 
"     to  eyes        - 
Weight,  14  pounds. 


2ii 

inches 

v.ii 

do. 

1(5 

do. 

8 

do. 

Si 

do. 

AMERICAN  CROSS  FOX. 


47 


HABITS. 


o    the  .Sta  e  of  New  YorK,  of  acquiriu,.  some  knowledge  of  the  habits  o 
the  f^  and  many  other  animals,  which  then  we.e  al^ndant  aro^  u 

Wuhm  a  few  zmles  dwelt  several  neighbours  who  vied  with  each  othe; 
ni  dest  03.ng  foxes  and  other  predacious  animals,  and  who  kept  a  sW 
account  of  the  number  they  captured  or  killed  each  season.  Wpp  rt 
most  of  our  neighbours  were  rather  unsuccessful-the  wary  foxre'pe ' 
eiully  seemed  very  soon,  as  our  western  hunters  would  say^to  be  "  up'o" 
trap.  Shooting  them  by  star-light  from  behin.l  a  hav-stad  IL  HoWs 
when  they  had  , or  some  time  been   baited    and  the^now    c  \ted     Jl' 

u  ell  at  first,  but  after  a  few  had  been  shot  at,  the  whole  tribe  of  fox  I 
--red,  gray,  cross,  and  black-appeared  to  be  aware  that  safety  wlsno 

!:;r :. -rs:'  ^" ''-  -'-'^'^  -  '-^--«'  -^  ^'^ey  .lU  r 

With  the  assistance  of  dogs,  pick-axes,  and  spades,  our  frien.ls  were  An- 
more  succe.lul,  and  we  think  might  have  bee^  co.isiderc     :   p^" ' w 
e  e  mvi  ed  to  ,oni  them,  which  we  did  on  a  ibw  occasions,  b       h.lT^ 
"»'"  <'»r  Kleas  of  sport  did  not  accord  precisely  with  theirs  J.  r 

wi.lulrew  fro,n  ,his  club  of  pri.nitive  fox-hu.fte  s  Each  If  t^.  "  '  ' 
men  was  guided  by  his  own  "  rules  and  regu;:io.^^!; .^f  ^^^^ 
'l.c  horse  was  not  brought  into  the  llel.l,  nor  do  we  remember  anv  sc'd'et 
coats.     I,ach  hunter  proceeded  in  the  direction  that  to  him  >  T 

.*>,  h„  .„e.  he  ,„,,_.„  ,.„  „„,,,  .-i:c:'; rz  ::;- 

".;•'  .■.".■.-.i  .v„,  „ »,„,.„^,  pi::;: ;;,,:    ;;:;;';;;';;;;:7;'  "- 
i'--« "- », »». ...  ^  i,,  „,„„i^  i  I, j  ,x  ;;;•:"'"'■:'"■  ""'• 

I...  lU  •  ...  '     """"•I"  <i 'IT  iius  inc  (vnent  so;i<nii 


48 


AMERICAN  CROSS  FOX. 


well  as  by  night ;  his  I'rcsh  tracks  may  be  seen  in  the  fields,  along  the 
fences,  and  on  the  skirts  of  the  farm-yard,  as  well  as  in  the  deep  forest. 

Nothing  is  easier  than  to  track  the  Fox  under  these  favourable  circum- 
stances, and  the  trail  havin°;  been  discovered,  it  is  followed  up,  until  Rey- 
nard is  started.  Now  the  chase  begins  :  the  half-hound  yells  out,  in  tones 
far  removed  from  the  mellow  notes  of  the  thorough-bred  dog,  but  equally 
inspiriting  perhaps,  through  the  clear  frosty  air,  as  the  solitary  hunter 
eagerly  follows  as  fast  as  his  limited  powers  of  locomotion  will  admit. 
At  intervals  of  three  or  four  minutes,  the  sharp  cry  of  the  dog  resounds, 
the  Fox  has  no  time  to  double  and  shulTle,  the  dog  is  at  his  heels  almost, 
and  speed,  speed,  is  his  only  hope  for  life.  Now  the  shrill  baying  of  the 
hound  becomes  irregular ;  we  may  fancy  he  is  at  the  throat  of  his  victim ; 
the  hunter  is  far  in  the  rear,  toiling  along  the  track  which  marks  the 
course  so  well  contested,  but  occasionally  the  voice  of  his  dog,  softened  by 
the  distance,  is  borne  on  the  wind  to  his  ear.  For  a  mile  or  two  the  Fox 
keeps  aliead  of  his  pursuer,  but  the  latter  has  the  longest  legs,  and  the 
snow  impedes  him  less  than  it  does  poor  Reynard;  every  bound  and 
plunge  into  the  snow  diminishes  the  distance  between  the  fox  and  his  re- 
lentless foe.  Onward  they  rush  through  field,  fence,  brushwood,  and  open 
forest,  the  snow  flying  I'rom  bush  and  briar  as  they  dart  through  the 
eopse  or  speed  across  the  newly-cleared  field.  But  this  desperate  race 
cannot  last  longer.  The  fox  must  gain  his  burrow,  or  some  cavernous 
rock,  or  he  dies.  Alas  !  he  has  been  lured  too  far  away  from  his  custom- 
ary haunts  and  from  his  secure  retreat,  in  search  of  prey;  he  is  unable  to 
reach  his  home  ;  the  dog  is  even  now  within  a  foot  of  his  brush.  One  more 
desperate  leap,  and  with  a  sudden  snappish  growl  In?  turns  upon  his  pur- 
suer and  endeavours  to  defend  himself  with  his  sharp  teeth.  For  a  mo- 
ment he  resists  the  dog,  but  is  almost  instantly  overcome.  He  is  not 
killed,  however,  in  the  first  onset;  both  dog  and  fox  are  so  fatigued  that 
tlicy  now  sit  on  their  haunches  Iheiiig  each  other,  resting,  panting,  their 
tongues  hanging  out,  and  the  foam  from  their  lip^  dropping  on  the  snow 
After  fiercely  eyeing  each  other  ibr  a  while,  both  become  impatient — the 
former  to  seize  his  prey,  and  the  latter  to  escape.  At  the  first  leap  of  the 
fox,  the  (log  is  upon  him  ;  with  renewed  vigour  he  seizes  him  by  the 
throat,  and  does  not  loose  his  hold  until  the  snow  is  stained  with  his  blood, 
and  he  lies  rumpled,  draggled,  with  blood-shot  eye  and  frothy  open  mouth, 
a  mangled  carcass  on  the  ground. 

'I'he  hunter  soon  eomes  up:  he  has  made  several  s/inrt  ruls,  guided  by 
th<'  bayinir  of  his  honrxl ;  and  striking  the  deep  trail  in  the  snow  again,  at 
a  point  nuu'h  nenrer  to  the  scene  of  the  (l(>alh-struggle.  he  hurries  toward 
the  place  where  the  last  ery  was  lit  aril,  and  pushes  forward  in  a  half  run 


AMERICAN  CROSS  FOX 

49 

unt.i  he  meets  his  do.,  which  o..  hearing  his  master  approach  generolly 

:o^r;::h:::- :!:;'"^  ^" '-'- '-  -^^  ^«  ^^-  p^-  --  ^rs 

We  will  now  have  another  hunt,  and  pursue  a  Fox  that  is  within  reach 

s-un  dtothe  utmost  is  shortening  the  distance  between  himscH' aTd  hi 
stronghold;  mcreasing  his  speed  with  his  renewed  hopes  rsafetv    he 

On  arrivmg  at  the  spot  where    the  Fox    hn«   K         /• 
'•'.oled."  the  sportsman   surveys  the  nlL'       A    .   "•^^"  ""'""'  ^^'""'^^ 

wU„,  direction  he  ,h„ll  .li,  ,he  flr.«  pi,.     tZ'I:  Itl,  ^f TT" 
is  c.'iierally  rievateil  n  liffl„  ,),„;      .i       ^^  '^°  "'  """"'•  "f  'he  burrow 

i.y  ..,.<  eJh  „h^  .he  p':  htrbrouir^r"*  t-"™  °'  "-^ '"■"""■' 

c,„l,a„l™e„t  series    ,„  keroM.h  "  '  ""■*  "'"  ""*''« 

of  al,,,nul,rce  or  limnle,  vl  r         ^       ■  ""'"""""e'l  »"  a  depth 

I'he  excavari,,;  i-  7  ""=  ™«'»"oo  of  the  burrow. 

■"   •.■.cer.ti,"     „      '            ,    "    :"'"  "'"'  '•■''""'"■"'  -"d  his  „i,|  1,  ,oUBh, 
•n...ru";    ,.  ""       ' '""  "   ,""  >■'■"'""  'I-  Pox  ha,  retreated. 

'"  '  "^  -  "" ■  ""     '>•!'-  '>'■■"  i"  "-it.  inserlod,  ,u,.l 


50 


AMERICAN  CROSS  FOX. 


either  reaches  him,  and  th*-  huntei'  is  made  aware  of  his  whereabouts  by 
his  snapping  at  it  and  growling,  which  calls  fortli  a  yelp  of  fierce  anxiety 
irom  the  dog ;  or,  as  frequently  happens,  the  Fox  is  heard  digging  for  life, 
and  making  no  contemptible  progress  through  the  earth.  Should  no  rock« 
or  large  roots  interfere,  he  is  easily  unearthed,  and  caught  by  the  dog. 

It  however  very  frequently  occurs,  that  the  den  of  the  Fox  is  situ- 
ated on  the  mountain  side ;  and  that  its  winding  galleries  run  beneath 
the  enormous  rootii  of  some  stately  pine  or  oak ;  or  it  may  be  amongsf 
huge  masses  of  broken  rock,  in  some  fissure  of  too  great  depth  to  be 
sounded,  and  too  contracted  to  be  entered  by  man  or  dog.  What  is  then 
to  be  done  ?  Should  a  "  dead- fall "  be  set  at  the  mouth  of  the  hole,  the 
Fox  will  (unless  the  ground  be  frozen  too  hard)  dig  another  opening,  and 
not  go  out  by  the  old  place  of  egress  ;  place  a  steel-trap  before  it,  and  he 
will  spring  it  without  being  caught.  lie  will  remain  for  days  in  his  re- 
treat, without  once  exposing  himself  to  the  danger  of  having  a  dog  snap- 
ping at  his  nose,  or  a  load  of  duck-shot  whistling  round  his  ears.  Our 
hunter,  however,  is  not  much  worried  with  such  reflections  as  we  have 
just  made ;  he  has  already  gathered  an  armful  or  two  of  dry  wood,  and 
perhaps  some  resinous  knots,  or  bits  of  the  bark  of  the  pine-tree  ;  he  cuts  up 
a  portion  into  small  pieces,  pulls  out  his  tinder-box,  flint,  and  steel,  and  in 
a  few  moments  a  smart  fire  is  lighted  within  the  burrow ;  more  wood  is 
th-rown  on,  the  mass  pushed  further  down  the  hole,  and  as  soon  as  it  be- 
gins to  roar  and  blaze  freely,  the  mouth  is  stopped  with  brush-wood 
covered  with  a  few  spadefuls  of  earth,  nnd  the  den  is  speedily  exhausted 
of  pure  air,  and  filled  with  smoke  and  noxious  gases. 

There  is  no  escape  for  the  Fox — an  enemy  worse  than  the  dog  or  the 
gun  is  destroying  him  ;  ht.  dies  a  protracted,  ptiinful  death  by  suffoca- 
tion !  In  about  an  hour  the  entrance  is  uncovered,  large  vommes  of 
smoke  issue  into  the  pure  air,  and  when  the  hunter's  eye  ca  i  pierce 
through  the  dense  smoky  darkness  of  the  interior,  he  mny  perhaps  discern 
the  poor  Fox  extended  lifeless  in  the  burrow,  and  may  reach  him  with  a 
stick.  If  not  quite  dead,  the  Fox  is  at  least  exhausted  and  insensible  ;  this 
is  sometimes  the  case,  and  the  animal  is  then  knocked  on  the  head. 

The  number  of  Foxes  taken  by  our  neighbours,  in  the  primitive  mode 
of  hunting  them  we  have  attempted  to  describe,  was,  as  nearly  as  we  can 
now  recollect,  about  sixty  every  winter,  or  an  avei  ge  of  nearly  twenty 
killed  by  each  hunter.  After  one  or  two  seasons,  the  nund)or  of  Foxes 
in  that  piirt  of  the  country  was  sensibly  dinn'nislied,  allliough  the  settle- 
ments hnd  not  increased  marerinlly  ;uul  the  neighbourhood  w.-is  at  that 
time  very  wild. 

At  this  time  Pennant's   Marten    {Mustcla  Camidcnsis)  was   not    vprv 


AMERICAN  CROSS  FOX. 


51 


bcarce  in  Rensselaer  county,  and  we    had    three    different    specimens 
brought  to  us  to  examine. 

These,  the  people  called  Black  Foxes.  They  were  obtained  by  cuttin- 
down  hollow  trees  in  which  they  were  concealed,  and  to  which  their 
tracks  on  the  snow  directed  the  hunters. 

We  cannot  now  find  any  note  in  regard  to  the  number  of  Cross  Foxes 
taken,  as  compared  to  the  Red,  Gray,  and  Black  Foxes;  about  one-fourth 
of  the  whole  number  captured,  however,  were  Gray  Foxes,  and  we  recol- 
lect  but  a  smgle  one  that  was  perfectly  black  with  the  exception  of  a  white 
tip  at  the  end  of  its  tail,  like  the  specimen  figured  in  our  work. 

On  examining  several  packages  of  Fox  skins  at  Montreal,  we  saw 
about  four  specimens  only  of  the  Cross  Fox,  and  three  of  the  Black  Fox, 
m  some  three  lumdred  skins.  We  were  inform.-<l  during  our  recent  visit 
to  the  upper  Missouri  country,  that  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  skins  of  the 
Cross  Fox  were  annually  procured  by  the  American  Fur  Company  li-om 
the  hunters  and  Indians. 

The  specimen  from  which  our  drawing  was  made,  was  caught  in  a 
steel-trap  by  one  of  its  fore-feet,  not  far  from  the  falls  of  Niagara  and 
was  purchased  by  J.  W.  AuD,;noN  of  the  proprietor  of  the  "Museum" 
kept  there  to  gratify  the  curiosity  of  the  travellers  who  visit  the  -real 
Cataract.  " 

Dr.    Richardson   (Fauna   Boreali   Americana,   p.   93)    adheres   to   the 
ojnnion  of  the  Indians,  who  regard  the  Cross  Fox  of  the   fur  traders  as  a 
mere  variety  of  the  Red  Fox.     He  says,  "I  found  on  inquiry  that  the  gra^- 
dat.ons  of  colour  between  characteristic  specimens  of  the  Cross  and  lied 
Fox   are  so  smrll,  that  the  hunters  are  often  in  doubt  with  respect  to  the 
proper  denominauon  of  a  skin ;  and  I  was  frequently  told,  "  This  is  not  a 
Cross  Fox  yen  but  it  is  becoming  so."     It  is  worthy  of  remark,  moreover 
that  the  European  Fox   {Vulpes  vuI^raHs)  is  subject  to   similar  varieties' 
and  that  the  "  Canis  crucigera  of  Gesner  differs  from  the  latter  animal  in 
the  same  way  that  the  American  (toss  Fox  does  from  the   red   one" 
We  have  had  several  opportunities  ,f  examining  C.  crucigera  in  the  mu- 
scums  of  Europe,  and  regard  it  as  a  variety  of  the  common  European 
<oxM,ut  u  dUlers  in  many  particulars  from  any  variety  of  the  American 
hi'd  J' ox  that  we  have  seen. 

'rhe  Cross  Fox  is  generally  regarded  as  being  more  wary  and  swift 
of  loot  than  the  Red  Fox;  with  rega.d  to  its  greater  swiftness,  we  doubt 
the  frtct.  We  witnessed  a  trial  of  speed  between  the  mongrel  greyhoun.l 
already  referred  to  in  this  article,  and  a  Red  Fox,  in  the  morning,  and 
another  between  the  same  dog  an.'  a  Cross  Fox,  about  noon  on  the  same 
day.     The  former  was  taken  after  an  hour's  hard  run  in  the  snow,  and  the 


52 


AMERICAN  CROSS  FOX. 


latter  in  half  that  time,  which  we  accounted  for  from  the  fact  that  the 
Cross  Fox  was  considerably  the  fattest,  and  from  this  circumstance  be- 
came tired  out  very  soon.  We  purchased  from  a  country  lad  a  specimen 
of  the  Cross  Fox  in  the  flesh,  which  he  told  us  he  had  caught  with  n 
eommon  cur  dog,  in  the  snow,  which  was  then  a  foot  in  depth. 

In  regard  to  the  cunning  of  this  variety  there  may  be  some  truth  in 
the  general  opinion,  but  this  can  be  accounted  for  on  natural  principles ; 
the  skin  is  considered  very  valuable,  and  the  animal  is  always  re- 
garded as  a  curiosity ;  hence  the  hunters  make  every  endeavour  to  ob- 
tain one  when  seen,  and  it  wouJd  not  be  surprising  if  a  constant  succes- 
sion of  attempts  to  capture  together  with  the  instinctive  desire  for  self- 
preservation  possessed  by  all  animals,  should  sharpen  its  wits  and  render 
it  more  cautious  and  wild  than  those  species  that  are  less  frequently  mo- 
lested. We  remember  an  instance  of  this  kind  which  we  will  here  relate. 
A  Cross  Fox,  nearly  black,  was  frequently  seen  in  a  particular  cover. 
We  offered  what  was  in  those  days  considered  a  high  premium  for  the 
animal  in  the  flesh.  The  fox  was  accordingly  chased  and  shot  at  by  the 
farmers'  boys  in  the  neighbourhood.  The  autumn  and  winter  passed 
away,  nay,  a  whole  year,  and  still  the  fox  was  going  at  large.  It  was  at 
last  regarded  by  some  of  the  more  credulous  as  possessing  a  charmed 
life,  and  it  was  thought  that  nothing  but  a  silver  ball  could  kill  it.  In  the 
spring,  we  induced  one  of  our  servants  to  dig  for  the  young  Foxes  that  had 
been  seen  at  the  burrow  which  was  known  to  be  frequented  by  the  Cross 
Fox.  With  an  immense  deal  of  labour  and  fatigue  the  young  were  dug 
out  from  the  side  of  a  hill ;  there  were  seven.  Unfortunately  we  were 
ol)liged  to  leave  home  and  did  not  return  until  after  they  had  been  given 
away  and  were  distributed  about  the  neighbourhood. 

Three  were  said  to  have  been  black,  the  rest  were  red.  The  blackest 
of  the  young  whelps  was  retained  for  us,  and  we  frequently  saw  at  the 
house  of  a  neighbour,  another  of  the  litter  that  was  red,  and  differed  in 
no  respect  from  the  Common  Red  Fox.  The  older  our  little  pet  became, 
the  less  it  grew  like  the  Black,  and  the  more  like  the  Cross  Fox.  It  was, 
very  much  to  our  regret,  killed  by  a  dog  when  about  six  months  old,  and 
as  far  as  we  can  now  recollect,  was  nearly  of  the  colour  of  the  specimen 
figured  in  our  work. 

The  following  autumn,  we  determined  to  try  our  hand  at  pro- 
curing the  enchanted  fox  which  was  the  parent  of  these  young  varieties, 
as  it  could  always  i)e  started  in  the  same  vicinity.  We  obtained  a  pair 
of  fine  fox-hounds  ant'  gave  chase.  The  dogs  were  youiiir,  and  ];rovod 
no  match  for  the.  fox,  which  generally  took  a  straight  direelion  tluough 
several  cleared  fields  for  five  or  six  miles,  after  which  it  began  winding 


AMERICAN  CROSS  FOX. 


53 


and  twisting  among  the  hills,  where  the  hou.ul.s  on  two  occasions  lost  the 
scent  and  returned  home. 

On  a  (hird  hunt,  we  took  our  stand  near  the  corner  of  an  old  field  it  a 
■spot  wr  had  .  wiee  observed  it  to  pass.  It  came  at  last,  swinging  its  i,rush 
(.■om  side  1o  side,  and  running  wilh  great  rapidity,  three-,,uarters  of  a  mile 
ahead  of  the  dogs,  which  were  yet  out  of  hearing.-A  good  aim  removed 
the  mysterious  charm:  we  killed  it  with  squirrel-shot,  without  the  aid  ot 
a  Sliver  bullet.  It  was  nearly  Jet-black,  with  the  tip  of  the  tail  white 
ihis  lox  was  11m  female  which  had  produced  the  young  of  the  previous 
sprmg  that  we  have  Just  spoken  of;  and  as  some  of  them,  as  we  have 
already  said,  were  Cross  Foxes  and  others  Red  Foxes,  this  has  settled 
the  question  in  our  minds,  that  both  the  Cross  Fox  and  the  Black  Fox 
are  mere  varieties  of  the  Red. 

.1.  W.  Aui.uBON  brought  the  specim-^n  be  obtained  at  Niagara  aliv-  to 
New-\ ork,  where  it  was  kept  for  six  or  seven  weeks.  It  fed  on  meat  of 
various  kinds:  it  was  easily  exasperated,  having  been  much  teased  on 
Its  ^vay  irom  the  Falls.  It  usually  laid  down  in  the  box  in  which  it  was 
confined,  with  its  head  toward  the  front  and  its  bright  eyes  constantly 
lookuiM-  upward  and  forward  at  all  intruders.  Som,,.times  duriu^^  the 
n.ght  It  would  bark  like  a  dog,  and  frequently  duri.ig  the  day  its  move- 
ments corresponded  with  those  of  the  latter  ani.wal.  It  could  not  bear  the 
.un-l,ght  shining  into  it.  prison,  and  continued  shy  and  snappish  to  the 
last. 

The  fur  of  the  Cross  Fox  was  formerly  in  great  demand;  a  sin-le  skin 
sometimes  selling  for  tw^enty-five  dollars;  at  present,  however,  i^ is  said 
not  to  b,>  worth  more  than  about  three  times  the  price  of  that  of  the  Red 
Fox. 


Ill 


GEOGRAPllICAI.    DISTRIBUTION. 

This  variety  soems  to  originate  only  i>i  cold  climates;  hence  we  have 
not  hcjinl  ol  ,t  in  the  southern  parts  of  the  States  of  New- York  and  IVnn- 
sylvania,  nor  farth,>r  to  the  South.  In  the  northern  portions  or  the  State 
ot  New- York,  in  New  Hampshire.  Maine,  and  in  Canada,  it  is  occa- 
sionally met  with,  in  locations  where  the  Red  Fox  is  common  It 
also  exists  in  Nova  Scotia  and  Labrador.  There  is  a  Cross  Fox  on  tlu 
Rocky  Mountains,  but  we  are  not  satisfied  that  it  will  eventually  prove 
lo  be  this  variety.  ' 


r.ENERAI,    REMARKS. 

The  animal  referred  toby  Saoaro  Tur.oo.vr  in  his  History  of  Canada, 
under  the  na.ne  of  Reuanl  Harr^.  Tsinanto.itongue.  was  evidently  this  va- 


54 


AMERICAN  CROSS  FOX. 


riety.  Pennant  probably  also  referred  to  it,  (vol.  ..,  j-  4fi,)  nltliough  he 
blended  it  with  the  European  T'.  Crucigera  of  Gesner,  and  the  KorsracJ 
of  the  Swedes.  Geoff  (Collect,  du  Mus.)  described  and  named  it  as  a 
true  species.  Desmarest  (Mamm.,  p.  20.3,  308)  and  Cuvier  (Diet,  des  Sc. 
Nat.,  vol.  viii.,  p.  500)  adopted  his  views.  It  is  given  under  this  na'ne 
by  Sabine  (Franklin's  Journ.,  p.  650.)  Harlan  (Fauna,  p.  88)  publishc  it 
as  a  distinct  species,  on  the  authority  and  in  the  words  of  Desmarest. 
GoDMAN,  who  gave  the  Black  or  Silver  Fox  {A.  argmtotus)  as  a  true  spe- 
cies, seemed  doubtful  whether  the  Cross  Fox  might  not  prove  a  "mule 
between  the  Black  and  Red  Fox."  Richardson,  under  the  name  of  the 
American  Cross  Fox,  finally  described  it  as  a  mere  variety  of  the  Red 
Fox. 

We  possess  a  hunter's  skin,  which  we  obtained  whilst  on  the  Upper 
Missouri,  that  differs  greatly  from  the  one  we  have  described,  in  its 
size,  markings,  and  the  texture  of  its  fur.  The  body,  from  point  of  nose 
to  root  of  tail,  is  3.3  inches  long;  tail  to  end  of  fur  18^;  the  skin  is  pro- 
bably stri  tched  beyond  the  natural  size  of  the  animal ;  but  the  tail,  which 
is  very  large  in  circumference,  is,  we  think,  of  its  proper  dimensions. 
The  hair  is  long,  being  on  the  neck,  sides,  and  tail,  five  inches  in  length ; 
the  under  fur,  which  is  peculiarly  soft,  is  three  inches  long.  There  is 
scarcely  a  vestige  of  the  yellowish-brown  of  our  other  specimen  on  the 
whole  body ;  but  the  corresponding  parts  are  gray.  The  tail  is  irregu- 
larly clouded  and  banded,  the  tip  for  three  inches  white.  The  colour  of 
the  remaining  portions  of  the  body  does  not  differ  very  widely  from  the 
specimen  we  have  described.  The  ears,  nose,  and  paws  of  this  specimen 
(as  in  most  hunters'  skins)  are  wanting.  It  is  not  impossible  thai  this 
may  be  a  variety  of  a  Iiirgtr  species  of  Red  Fox,  referred  to  by  Lewis  and 
Clark,  as  existing  on  both  sides  of  the  Rockj   Mountains. 


05 


«CIUR18   CaROLINENSIS.-Gmel. 

Carolfna  Grav  Suuirrel. 
PLATE  VIL-Male  and  Fem^l.. 

charactebs. 

synonymes. 

EcrRKri,.  Oris  de  .a  Caroline,  Bosc,  vol.  ii..  p  »o   nl   20 
SuiuRus  Cauolinensis    RfiPl,     \r  t^        ^"      '  P'*  ^'^^ 

description. 

liDwever,  so  many  mnrlfpH  ,i;fF„,.  •      .         ""fe"""'*"*;.     1  here  arc, 

..>*„,  rf  nature' r„etr2        "T\  '"'""  """  """"■  '""'""y 
nm,..l  specie,.  ^  ""•=''"■<'  "■"  '""'"'"l™  l'«,vee„  ,hc«  ,„„ 

w."::l-'zi:;r;LT::,hrr  "■:  --^  -"--"io-eiy  br„.der  .ha„ 

anima,.     S„„u  „„  er  „^I h      °;?  ''•"'"^' '  "»"  *-I-  'l"."  i"  .ha. 
-variably  r„„„d  it  ,0  eS       „  ,      h  '""  '"'""""'•"'  <"""=  "-= 

N.  c„„.„e,,b„  ,„,,er  ,ha„t  I  lit  rr'^r  '"^  ^^°"""''">  " 
Bive  i,„liratio„s  of  ,h„  in,livi,l„.l  '  ""■  ""''  ""  <""  ''Pccimeas  which 
^i"".l.  i"s,ea,l  of  l,avL  *,;'?,  '■™  .""•«■  '■■»"  "  y"  °M  "hen 
■Tooi,..,  have  a  .nsUn^  t^.^^rl  i;''  -*'»»''-.  "»  i"  H,c  latter 
■""l-s  arc  not  mmj.  ualike  ,l,„».  of  f  ■•'. ''""''le  crown.  The  other 
'"•■«"f   and    smaller -tl„.    ,„  rr  ""i"'""'""  i"  far.n,  but  ,-,„, 

•      '"    " '  ""■'■""■»  '-'"B  ..early  a  lUrd  shorter 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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Fhotographic 

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CAHOLINA  GRAY  SQUIRREL. 


Body,  shorter  and  leas  elegunt  in  shape,   and  not  indicating  the  quickness 
and  vi\ai-ity  by  which  .V.  migro/oritts  is  eminently  distinguished. 

The  ears,  which  are  nearly  triangtdar,  are  so  slightly  clothed  with  hair 
on  their  interior  surfaces,  that  they  may  be  said  to  be  nearly  naked  ;  ex- 
ternally they  are  sjmrsely  clothed  with  short  woolly  hair,  whieli  how- 
ever does  not  extend  as  far  beyond  the  margins  as  in  other  species. 
Nails  shorter  and  less  crooked;  tail  .shorter,  and  without  the  broad 
distichous  appearance  of  that  of  the  Northern  Gray  Squirrel. 


OOLOUR. 

Teeth,  light  orange;  nails,  brown,  lightest  at  the  extremities;  whis- 
kers, l)lack ;  on  the  nose  and  cheeks,  and  around  the  eyes,  a  slight  tinge 
of  rufous  gray. 

Fur  on  the  back,  for  thrcc-foui  ths  of  its  length,  dark  plumbeous,  suc- 
ceeded by  a  sliglit  indication  of  black,  edged  with  yellowish-brown  in 
some  of  the  hairs,  giving  it  on  the  suriace  a  dark  grayish-yellow  tint. 
In  a  lew  specimens  there  is  an  obscure  shade  of  light  brown  along  the 
sides,  where  the  yellowish  tint  predominates,  and  a  tinge  of  this  colour  is 
observable  on  the  upper  surface  of  tli(!  fore-legs,  above  the  knees.  Feet, 
light  gray;  tail,  for  three-fourths  of  its  length  from  the  root  yellowish- 
brown  ;  the  remainder  black,  edged  with  white ;  throat  inner  surface  of 
the  legs  and  bcily.  white. 

This  spec"..-!  does  not  run  into  varieties,  as  do  the  Northern  Gray 
Squirrel  and  the  Black  Sijuirrel ;  tlie  specimens  received  from  Alabamn, 
Florida  and  Louisiana,  scarcely  present  a  shade  of  difference  from  those 
existing  in  South  Carolina,  which  we  have  just  described. 

DIMENSIONS. 

Length  of  head  and  body 

tail  (vertel)ra') 

"    to  end  of  hair        -        -        .        . 
Height  of  oar       ---.... 

Palm  to  end  of  middh;  claws        -         -        -         . 

Heel  to  end  of  middle  nail 

Lenirth  of  fur  on  the  back 

Breadth  of  tail  (with  hair  extended) 


« 


9i 

inches, 

n 

do. 

9i 

do. 

1 

a 

do. 

u 

do. 

2i 

do. 

i 

do. 

3 

do. 

ItAniTS. 


This  species  difH-rs  as  mucli  in  ils  habits  from  ilie  Northern  Gray  Sqiijp 
rfi  as  it   doo   in  funn  and  ruUmv.     From  an  inliinale  acquainlan.e  with 


CAROLINA  GRAY  SQUIRREL. 


5- 


he  habits  of  the  latter,  we  are  particularly  impressed  with  the  pec.i 
lanties  of  the  present  species.  Its  bark  has  not  the  depth  of  tone  of 
that  of  the  Northern  species,  and  is  more  shrill  and  querulous.  Ins  -ad 
of  mounting  high  on  the  tree  when  alarmed,  which  the  latter  always 
does,  the  Sc.  Carolincmis  generally  plr.ys  round  the  trunk,  and  on  the 
sxde  opposite  to  the  observer,  at  a  height  of  some  twenty  or  thirty  feet 
often  concealing  its.  If  beneath  the  Spanish  .noss  ^Tillandsia  Usneoides) 
which  hangs  about  the  tree.  When  a  person  who  has  alarmed  one  of 
these  Squirrels  remains  quiet  for  a  few  moments,  it  descends  a  few  feet 
and  seats  itself  on  the  first  convenient  branch,  in  order  the  better  to  ob- 
serve  his  movements. 

It  is,  however,  capable  of  climbing  to  the  extremity  of  the  branches 
and  leaping  from  tree  to  tree  with  great  agility,  but  is  less  wild  than  the 
Northern  species,  .o-id  is  almost  as  easily  ap,:roached  as  the  chickaree, 
{Sc   Hu,lso,uus.)      One  who  is  desirous  of  obtaining  a  specimen,  has  only 
to  ^ke  a  seat  for  half  an  hour  in  any  of  the  swamps  of  Carolina  and 
ho  ^ull  be  surprised  at  the  immense  number  of  these  squirrels  that  may 
be  seen  running  along  the  log.  or  leaping  among  the  surrounding  trees, 
^^''-^t  "lany  are  killed,  and  their  flesh  is  both  juicv  and  tender, 
llie    Carolina    Gray    Squirrel    is    sometimes    seen    on    high    .^rounds 
among  the  oak  and  hickory  trees,    although   its  usual  haunts  Ire  low 
TT'  m""  "  *7^^^'«'-''-»-"- streams  or  growing  near  the  mar- 
gin of  some  river.      In  deep  cypress  .wamps  covered  in  many  places 
with  .several  feet  of  water  during  the  whole  year,  it  takes  up  its  conl 
•0  ulence,    moving    among   the    entwined  branches  of  the  dense  fore 

..h  great  faci hty.     Its  hole  in  such  situations  may  sometimes  be  found 

m  the  trunk  o    a  decayed  cypress.     On  the  large  tupelo  trees,  (Nyssa 

a<iuauca,)  which  are  found  in  the  swamps,  many  nes^s  of  this  specks 

composed  principally  of  Spanish  moss  and  leaves,  are  every  whe      to 

e  seen.      In  these  nests,  or  in  some  woodpecker's  hole,    the',   p,     „ 

M^ili'T-.  r  '"  "","^  «-— ^-.  and  are  brought U;, 
31.  ch  ,  It  IS  well  ascertained  also  that  the  female  litters  a  second  time 
m  the  season,  probably  about  mid-summer 

o  he,.     It  IS  in  some  degree  nocturnal,  or  at  least  crepuscular,  in  its  ha 
bits.      n  ruling  along  by-p,,ths  through  the  woods,  lo  g  afVer  sunset  we 
are  often   startled  by  the  barking  of  this  little  Squirr    ,  as  ^c "  ^he^ 
among    he   leaves,  or  leaps  from  tree  to  tree,  sclittering  over  th      ar  h 

bir  ai^tr  ^;^:r  ^'^  -  --  -  -"^  -  -^- 

This  species  is  seldom,  if  ever,  seen  in  company  with  the  Fox  Squirrel 


58 


CAROLINA  GRAY  SQUIRREL. 


(.S'c.  Capistratus,,  or  even  found  in  the.  same  neighbourhood  ;  this  arises 
probably  not  so  much  from  any  antipathy  to  each  other,  as  Irom  the  fact 
that  very  different  localities  are  congenial  to  the  peculiar  habits  of 
each. 

We  have  observed  the  Carolina  Gray  Squirrel  on  several  occasions  by 
moonlight,  as  actively  engaged  as  the  Flying  Squirrel  usually  is  in  the 
evening ;  and  this  propensity  to  prolong  its  search  after  food  or  its  playlul 
gambols  until  the  light  of  day  is  succeeded  by  the  moon's  pale  gleams, 
causei  it  frequently  to  fall  a  prey  to  the  Virginian  owl,  or  the  barred 
owl;  which  last  especially  is  very  abundant  in  the  swamps  of  CaroHna, 
where,  gliding  on  noiseless  pinions  between  the  leafy  branches,  it  seizes 
the  luckless  Squirrel  ere  it  is  aware  of  its  danger,  or  can  make  the  slight- 
est attempt  to  escape.     The  gray  fox  and  the  wild  cat  often  surprise  this 
and  other  species  by  stratagem  or  stealth.      We  have  beheld  the  prowling 
lynx  concealed  in  a  heap  of  brushwood  near  an  old  log,  or  near  the  foot 
of  a  tree  frequented  by  the  Squirrel  he  hopes  to  capture.     For  hours  to- 
gether will  he  lie  thus  in  ambush,  and  should  the  unsuspicious  creature 
pass  within  a  few  feet  of  him,  he  pounces  on  it  with  a  sudden  spring,  and 
rarely  fails  to  secure  it. 

Several  species  of  snakes,  the  raale-snake,  {Crotalus  durassus,)  blaclc 
snake,  {Coluber  constrictor,)  and  the  chicken  snake,  {Coluber  quadrivitta- 
tus,)  for  instance,  have  been  found  on  being  killed,  to  have  a  Squirrel  in 
their  stomach;  and  the  fact  that  Squirrels,  birds,  &c.,  although  possessing 
great  activity  and  agility,  constitute  a  portion  of  the  food  of  these  rep- 
tiles, being  well  established,  the  manner  in  which  the  sluggish  serpent 
catches  animals  so  far  exceeding  him  in  speed,  and  some  of  them  endow- 
ed  with  the  power  of  rising  from  the  earth  and  skimming  away  with  a 
few  flaps  of  their  wings,  has  been  the  subject  of  much  speculation.  Some 
persons  have  attributed  a  mysterious  power,  more  especially  to  the  rattle- 
snake and  black  snake— we  mean  the  power  oi  fascinating,  or  as  it  is 
commonly  called,  charming. 

This  supposed  faculty  of  the  serpent  has,  however,  not  been  accounted 
for.  The  basilisk  of  the  ancients  killed  by  a  look;  the  eye  of  the  rattle- 
snake  is  supposed  so  to  paralyze  and  at  the  same  time  attract  its  intend 
ed  prey,  that  the  animal  slowly  approaches,  going  through  an  infinite 
variety  of  motions,  alternately  advancing  and  retreating,  until  it  finally 
falls  powerless  into  the  open  jaws  of  its  devourcr. 

As  long  as  we  are  able  to  explain  by  natural  deductions  the  very  sin- 
gular  manoeuvres  of  birds  and  squirrels  when  "fascinated"  by  a  snake 
It  would  be  absurd  to  imagine  that  anything  mysterious  orsupernatur:»l 
13  connected  with  the  subject ;    and    we    consider   that  there  are  many 


CAROLINA  GRAY  SQUIRUEL 

».nall  q„aJ,upe,l  .     It  i.  .aid  that  the  distant Toa    of,h   Z  r 

cau.«s.heoxe,Uo.re.b,c  a„„  ..a„d  para  ;  d      V/ ^l^t'jH  "'' 
"OLDT  relates  that  in  the  torPKt^  nf  <J     ♦!     a        •  '     "°  ^'^"- 

.no„.e,,  a„d  „.„„  j^Jizi  tih  r  rh^nitr "'-'  "'■ 

as  llio  roar  ol'  tlie  Jamn^    il,     i  "**"•  ■""  "«  «»" 

and  ,nad..nped,  a^';  t^,  rairirLr*,"'^'  '*^-  "'"'» 
to  draw  near  to  strange  objects  '-^11!!"  ""!  /^'^  P'™?"  «l"="' 
H-o"ed,  by  wavin/a  ri  hind  Jotf  .rT  ia,rL"l '°°"^=" 
a  li«.e  dog  to  bonnd  backward  and  forwiri  T  abTal  rT"" 
^.^^sn.e.rn-1,  practised  b,  sportsmen  on  .1™  bLtlt  ^ 'Z 

clo-b  is  attacbed.  or  by  tbrowL,  tbe^lrveton  I7't:.  TnTl  °\  "" 
then-  beels  up  in  the  air.     It  anv  stran..e  „bi,«       .,  °'""° 

^-ya.  such . .  .u«ea  .^^^7::^f::::::ri^^j^^ 

fowls  W.11  crowd  near  it,  and  scrutinize  it  for  a  long  tin  J    Ev^^^^^^ 
almost  may  have  observed  at  some  time  or  othe.  dozens  on,irdsT,        ^' 
around  a  common  cat  in  a  shrubberv   -,  f^.f  ■  collected 

Tbe, squirrel  is  ren.arkable  t^tsVL^r  S  rj";™:^';-'-- 
..mes  eorne  down  from  tbe  highest  branch  of  a  Ire  ,„  wiifn  T  T"" 
of  the  ground,  to  take  a  view  of  a  small  searle,  snake    mt^ .  " 

;;™,)  not  much  larger  than  a  pipe-sten,,  aud  w  i  h  h  Jf f  I:"  °°'"- 
liings,  could  scarcely  master  a  grassbopner  Thi!  „T,  !  P"'^"""' 
believer,,  in  the  i;.,ein,a,i„g  powls'f  T^l  L  I '  T  M  ,'  ''^"''"'  ""^ 
of  their  theories,  but  they"J.,u,d  ,i„d  i.'lrat-r.:    ^pilX 

jnst, b  p^aking „,; the u.i:;c: r :,^ if ::t;.„ rr: 

secured  in  our  carriage  box.     After  we  hi«l  driven  off  '^      n 

that  in  our  anx.ety  to  secure  tbe  snake  w    bad  leTour  LT  rT" 
spcointens  a.  the  place  where  we  bad  lin,t  se  r,he  htl        f  ■"" 

ing  for  it.  we  once  more  saw  the  Squirrol  di^b":;"™  "'""'; 
and  .skipping  „„,„,  ,|,„  „„„  „,.  „„.  JT  "'"'.  "'.™"''^ 


'  1. 1,'  ij 


00 


CAROLINA  GRAY  SQUIRREL. 


iliiit  if  tlic  little  snake  had  "charmed"  the  Squirrel,  the  same  "lasciiial- 
ins"  inllurnca  was  exercised  by  our  tin  box  ! 

(iiiii(lruj)c(ls  Mild  birds  liave  certain  antij)iithi(>s:  they  are  capable  of 
cxpcricncinf,'  many  of  the  feelings  that  ajjpcrtain  to  mankind ;  they  nre 
suscei)tible  of  passion,  are  sometimes  spiteful  and  r(!vengeful,  an»l  are 
wise  enough  to  know  their  "natural  enemies"  without  a  formal  introduc- 
tion. The  blue  jay,  brown  thrush,  white-eyed  fly-catcher,  and  other  little 
birds,  arc  often  to  be  heard  scolding  and  fluttering  about  a  thicket  in 
which  some  animni  is  conccilcd  ;  and  on  going  to  examine  into  the  cause 
ol'  their  unwonted  excitement,  you  will  probably  see  a  wild  cat  or  fox 
spring  forth  from  the  covert.  Every  one  familiar  with  the  habits  of  our 
feathered  tribes  must  have  seen  at  times  the  owl  or  buzzard  chased  by 
the  smallest  birds,  which  unite  on  such  occasions  for  the  purpose  of  driv- 
ing off  a  common  enemy ;  in  these  cases  the  birds  sometimes  approach 
too  near,  and  are  seized  by  the  owl.  We  once  observed  some  night-hawks 
(Chordcilcs  Vir^^inianiis)  darting  round  a  tree  upon  which  an  owl  was 
perched.  Whilst  looking  on,  we  perceived  the  owl  make  a  sudden  move- 
ment and  foimd  that  he  had  caught  one  of  them  in  his  sharp  claws,  and 
notwithstanding  the  cries  and  menaces  of  the  others  he  instantly  de- 
voui'ed  it. 

Birds  dart  in  the  same  maimer  at  snakes,  and  no  doii1)t  are  often  caught 
by  passiugtoo  near — shall  we  tlu  refore  coiiclude  (hat  liiey  are  fascinated? 

();ie  of  the  most  powerful  "attractions"  which  remain  to  i)e  consider- 
ed, is  the  love  of  olispring.  This  leeliiig,  which  is  so  deeply  rooted  in 
ihe  system  of  nature  as  to  be  a  ruh;  almost  without  an  exception,  is 
manifested  strongly  by  birds  and  quadrupeds;  and  snakes  are  among 
the  most  to  be  dreaded  destroyers  of  eggs  and  young  birds  and  of  the 
young  of  small  species  of  viviparous  animais ;  is  it  not  iik"Iy  ♦'  -jre- 
fore  that  many  of,  the  (supposed)  cases  of  fascination  that  are  i\  Jed, 
may  be  referred  to  the  intrepidity  of  the  animals  or  birds,  manifested  in 
trying  to  defend  their  young  or  drive  awjiy  their  enemy  from  their  vi- 
cinity? In  our  work,  the  "Birds  of  America,"  we  represented  a  mock- 
ing-bird's nest  attacked  by  a  rattle-snake,  and  the  nest  of  a  red  thrush 
invaded  by  a  black  snak(> ;  these  two  plates  each  exhibit  several  birds 
assisting  the  pair  wliose  nest  lias  been  robbed  by  the  snake,  and  also 
show  the  mocking-bird  and  thrush  courageously  advancing  to  the  jaws 
even  of  their  enemy.  Thes(>  ])iclures  were  drawn  after  the  actual  oc- 
currence before  cnu'  ey(>s  of  the  scenes  which  we  endeavoured  to  repre- 
.«ent  in  them;  and  siip])osiiiu-  a  person  but  little  acquainted  with  natunil 
history  to  have  seen  the  birds,  as  we  did,  he  might  readily  have  fancied 
(hat  some  of  them  at  least  were  fa>   inated,  as  he  could  not  probably  have 


CAROLINA  GRAY  SQUIRREL. 


61 


i.oon  near  enough  to  „,ark  the  angry  expression  of  their  eyes,   and  see 

llicir  well  concealed  nest,  auu  see 

Our  readers  will,  we  trust,  excuse  us  for  detaining  them  yet  a  little 

onger  on  ,h,s  su,,ect,  as  ..  have  ,nore  to  say  of  the  habits  of'the  rat    ! 

snake  in  connexion  with  the  subject  we  are  upon 

Tins    snake    the   most   venomous    known  in  North  America,  subsists 
holly  on  ammal  food;    it  digests  its  food  slowly,  and  is  able  to  e 

lus    nne  it  ol  en  increases  n.  size,  and  the  number  of  its  rattles  is  au.^^ 

nited.     In  its  natural  state  it  feeds  on  rabbits,  squirrels,  rats,  birdfor 

any  other  small  animals  that  may  come  in  its  way.     It  captures  i,s  pVey 

V   vmg  in  wait  lor  U,  and  we  have  heard  of  an  instance  in  which  one 

-t  these  snakes  remained  coiled  up  for  two  days  before  the  mouth  of  the 

nirrow  of  the  Florida  rat,  (AW.o..   /«,.,)  ,„a  ,„  ,,  ^eing  kil  ed 

It  was  found  to  have  swallowed  one  of  these  quadrupeds. 

P  oj  ^^l,h  Its  fangs,  and  thus  kills  it  before  swallowing  it.     The  bite  is 
udoen.  and  aUhough  the  victim  may  run  a  fow  yards  after  it  is  struck 
he  serpent  easily  finds  it  when  dead.     Generally  the  common  species  of 
atle-snake  refuses  all  lbo,l  when  in  a  cage,  but  occasionallv  one  is  found 
hat  does  not  refuse  to  eat  whilst  in  captivity.      When  aVat  is  turned 
1.-S0  .n  a  cage  with  one  of  these  snakes,    it  does  not  innnediately  kil. 
•t,  but  often  leaves  it  unmolested  for  days  and  weeks  together.     When 
however,  the  reptile,  prompted  eitl.r  by  in-itation  or  hunger,  designs  to 
lui   the  animal,  it  lies  in  wait  for  it,  eat-like,  or  gently  crawls  up  to  it 
-.nd    suddenly   gives    tlu-   mortal  blow,    after  which,  it  very  slowly  and 
delib,M-at..ly  turns  it  over  into  a  proper  position  and  finally  swallows  it 

Ve  have  seen  a  ratfh-snake  in  a  very  large  cage  using  every  means 
^^  .thin  Its  power  and  exerting  its  cunning  for  a  whole  month,  before  it 
<-ould  succeed  in  capturing  a  brown  thrush  that  was  imprisoned  with  i^ 
At  night  the  bird  roosted  beyond  the  reach  of  tln>  snake,  and  during  the 
dMy-t.me  it  was  too  cautious  in  its  movements,  and  too  agile,  snatching 
up  .  s  food  at  intervals,  and  flying  instantly  back  to  its  perch,  to  be  struck 
by  the  unwieldy  serpent.  We  now  added  a  mouse  to  the  number  of  the 
inmates  of  tlu-  cage  ;  the  affrighted  animal  retreated  to  a  corner,  where 
.Iu>  snake  slowly  crawling  up  to  it,  with  a  sudd,-n  blow  darted  his  fangs 
>•'"'  ••'-"1  l^'ll'"l  it;  soon  after  which  he  swallowed  it.  About  a  week 
'tfter  fhis  adventure,  (h,.  snake  again  resumed  his  attempts  to  capture  the 
llMMisli.  and  pursued  it  all  round  the  cage. 

This  experiment  offered  a  fair  opportunity  for  the  rattle-snake  to  exert 
•Is  powers  of  fascination,  had  it   possessed  any;  but  as  it  did  not  exhibit 


63 


CAIIOLINA  GRAY  SQUmUEL. 


them,  we  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  it  was  entirely  destitute  of  any 
(iiculty  of  the  kind. 

At'lrr  .some  hours'  Iruitloss  manoBUvring,  the  snake  coiled  itself  up  near 
the  cup  of  water  from  which  the  bird  drank.  For  two  days  the  thrusli 
avoided  the  water;  on  the  third,  liaving  become  very  thirsty,  it  showed  a 
(H)nstant  desire  to  approach  the  cup;  the  snake  waited  for  it  to  come 
witiiin  reach,  and  in  tlie  course  of  the  day  struck  at  it  two  or  three  tirnes ; 
the  bird  darted  out  of  its  way,  however,  and  was  not  killed  until  the 
next  day. 

If,  notwithstanding  these  facts,  it  is  arpjued,  that  the  mysterious  and 
inexj)licable  power  ol'  fnxciiuil ion  is  possessed  l)y  the  snake,  because  birds 
have  been  seiMi  to  approach  it,  and  with  open  wings  and  ))hiinliv(!  voict; 
seemed  to  wait  upon  its  appetite,  we  must  be  prepared  to  admit  that  the 
same  faculty  is  possessed  by  other  animals.  On  a  certain  day,  we  saw 
a  mocking-bird  <>xliibiting  every  appearance,  usu.ally,  according  to  de- 
scriptions, witnessed  wiien  birds  arc  under  the  influence  of  iascination. 
It  approaclied  a  hog  which  was  occupied  in  munching  something  at  the 
foot  of  a  small  cedar.  The  bird  fluttered  before  the  grunter  with  open 
wings,  uttered  a  low  and  plaintive  note,  alighted  on  his  back,  and 
tinally  i)cgan  to  peck  at  his  snout.  On  examining  into  the  cause  of  these 
strange  jiroccu'dings,  we  ascertained  that  the  mocking-bird  had  a  nest 
in  the  tre(>,  from  whicli  .jevera!  of  her  younglings  had  fallen,  which  th*; 
hog  was  eating!  (^ur  friend,  the  late  Dr.  Wnitiirr,  of  Troy,  informed  us 
liiat  he  witnessed  a  ne.irly  similar  scene  betwjui  a  cat-bird  and  a 
dog  which  had  disturbed  her  brood,  on  which  occasion  the  cat-bird 
went  through  many  of  the  movements  generally  ascribed  to  the  efTect  of 
fascination. 


GEOGRAPHICAL    DISTRIBUTION. 


We  have  received  a  specimen  of  this  Squirrel  which  was  procured  in 
the  market  at  New  Orleans,  where  it  is  said  to  be  exceedingly  rare. 
We  have  not  traced  it  fiirther  to  the  Soutli.  It  is  the  most  abundant  spe- 
cies in  Florida,  Georgia  and  South  Carolina.  We  have  seen  it  in  the 
swamps  of  North  Carolina,  but  have  no  positive  evidence  that  it  extends 
farther  to  the  northward  tlinn  that  State.  We  have  obtained  it  in  Ala- 
jama,  and  in  Mississippi  vvc  are  told  it  is  found  in  the  swamps.  Nothing 
las  been  heard  of  it  west  ol'  the  Mississippi  river. 


GKNERAI.    REMARKS. 

This  species  was  first  described  by  Omemn,  and  afterwards  noticed  and 


CAROLINA  GRAY  SQUIRRKL 

63 

figured  by  Bosc.     The  doscriptions  in  ILvk.,,,  Goom..,  and  all  other  au- 

hors  who  have  deseribed  this  species  under  ,he  n.n^e  of  SeiurJcZ 

^.n..    refer  to  the  Nortkrrn  Gray  Squirrel.      W  ,   believe   we    were 

the  h.-.^  to  observe  and  point  out   the   distinctive   characters  which  s" 

p^.m^e  the  present  species  from  S.  migratonus,  the  Gray  Squirrel  of  the 


64 


GENUS   TAMIAS.  — Ilugkb. 


T       •    •       '      ^  0       __  ,  5-5 

incisive  - :  Canine  - ;  Molar  —  =  22. 
8  0  ♦-* 


Upper  incisors,  smooth ;  lower  ones,  compressed  and  sharp ;  molars, 
vvith  short,  tuberculous  crowns. 

Nose,  pointed ;  lip,  cloven ;  ears,  round,  short,  not  tufted  or  fringed ; 
cheek-pouches,  ample. 

Tail,  shorter  than  the  body,  hairy,  sub-distichous,  somewhat  .apering. 
Mamma;,  exposed ;  feet,  distinct,  ambulatory ;  fore-feet,  four  toed,  with  a 
minute  blunt  nail  in  place  of  a  thumb;  hind-feet  five  toed;  claws,  hooked. 

This  genus  differs  from  Sciurus  in  several  important  particulars.  The 
various  species  that  have  been  discovered  have  all  the  same  characteris- 
tics, and  strongly  resemble  each  other  in  form,  in  their  peculiar  markings 
and  in  their  habits.  In  shape  they  differ  from  the  true  squirrels  and  a])- 
proach  to  the  spermojihiles ;  they  have  a  sliarp  convex  nose  adapted 
to  digging  in  the  earth ;  they  have  longer  heads,  and  their  ears  are 
placed  farther  back  than  those  of  squirrels ;  they  have  a  more  slender 
body  and  shorter  extremities.  Their  ears  are  rounded,  without  any  tufts 
on  the  borders  or  behind  them.  They  have  cheek-pouches,  of  which  all 
squirrels  are  destitute ;  their  tails  are  ronndish,  narrow,  seldom  turned  up, 
and  only  sub-distichous. 

The  species  belonging  to  this  genus  are  of  small  size,  and  are  all  lon- 
gitudinally striped  on  the  back  and  sides. 

Their  notes  are  very  peculiar;  they  emit  a  chipping  clucking  sound 
differing  very  widely  from  the  quacking  chattering  cry  of  the  squirrels. 

They  do  not  mount  trees  unless  driven  to  them  from  necessity,  but  dig 
burrows,  and  spend  their  nights  and  the  season  of  wintei  under  ground. 

They  are,  however,  more  closely  related  to  the  squirrels  than  to  the  sper 
niophiles.  The  third  toe  from  the  inner  side  is  slightly  the  longest,  as  in 
the  former ;  whilst  in  the  latter,  the  second  is  longest,  as  in  the  mar- 
mots. The  genus  Tamias  is  therefore  nearly  allied  to  the  squirrels,  whilst 
the  spermophiles  approach  the  marmots. 

Authentic  species  of  the  genus  Sciurus  are  already  very  numerous,  and 
as  we  have  now  a  number  of  species,  to  whi\;h  constant  additions  are 
jnaking  by  the  explorers  of  our  Western  regions,  which  by  their  cheek- 
noucLss,   their   markings,   and  habits,   can  be  advantageously  separated 


molars, 

Tinged  5 

ipering. 
with  a 
hooked. 
s.  The 
•acteris- 
larkings 
and  a])- 
adapted 
ars  are 
slender 
ly  tufts 
hich  all 
•ned  up, 

all  lon- 

j  sound 
■rels. 
but  dig 
)und. 
he  sper 
t,  as  in 
le  mar- 
,  whilst 


us,  and 

ons  are 

cheek- 

parated 


I 


VHP 


Nv: 


i'lai.'  VIII 


Ih-awrioii  Su»fie  by  H    Iretnbiv 


-/      '  - 


>^f     t/f'^^f  r 


>rawn  From  llat.ur**  i-y  J.'nu  Jui-on    FHS    1-  I  5 


Prirt.O'H  joy  Na^p;  EV  Weir^ ar t,nor    NY 


nil 


( 


iV_**^ 


NY 


CHIPPING  SQUIRREL. 


65 


from  that  genus,  no  doubt  naturalists  will  arrange  them  in  the   genus 
Tamias. 

When  this  genus  was  first  established  by  Illiger,  but  a  single  species 
was  satisfactorily  known,  and  naturalists  were  unwilling  to  separate  it 
from  the  squirrels,  to  which  it  bears  so  strong  an  affinity  ;  but  we  are  now, 
ho>vever,  acquainted  with  six  species,  and  doubt  not  that  a  few  more 
years  of  investigation  will  add  considerably  to  this  number.  We  have 
couseiiucntly  adopted  the  genus  Tamias  of  that  author. 

The  word  Tamias  is  derived  from  the  Greek  r«^«,,  (tamias,)  a  keeper 
ot  ston-s— in  reference  to  its  cheek-pouches. 

One  species  of  this  genus  exists  in  the  Northern  portions  of  the  Eastern 
contment;  four  in  North,  and  one  in  South,  America.  We  also  possess 
an  undcscribcd  species,  the  habitat  of  which  is  at  present  unknown  to  us. 


TAMIAS  LISTERI.—Ray. 

Chipping  Squirrel,  Hackee.  &c. 
PLA'l'K  \(ll  — Malk,  Fbmalb,  and  Youno  (First  Auiuiun). 

T.  dorso  fusco-cinereo,  striis  quin.iue  nigris,  et  duobus  luteo-albis  longi- 
tudinaiibus  ornato ;  fronte  et  natibus  fusco-luteis ;  ventre  albo. 

characters. 

lirownish  gray  on  the  back;  forehead  and  buttocks  brownish  orange ;  jive 
longitudinal  black  stripes  and  two  yellowish  white  ones  on  the  back;  undor 
surface  white. 


SYNONYM  ns. 

EcJUEiiii.  Suisse,  Sagard  Tlieodat.  Canada,  p.  740,  A..  D.  1036. 
Gkoond  Squirrel,  LawsonV  Carolina,  p.  124. 

Catesby,  Carol,  vol.  ii.,  p.  Ts. 
EuwAuns.  vol.  iv.,  p.  181.     Kalm,  vol.  i.,  p.  322. 
8CIU11US  I.V8TE.U,  Ray,  Synops.  Quad.,  p.  216,  A.  D.  1693. 
In  ijv\»m,  Clii'.iiovoix    h'ouv.  Fr.,  vol.  v.,  p.  100. 
Sriui-KD  Do..Mot:HK,  Pennant.  Arc.  ZooL,  4  vols.,  "vol.  i.,  p.  12«. 
SciUKiis  Cauomnensis,  ]3risson,  licg.  Anim.,  p.  155,  A.  D.  1760. 
tvi^KKLMr  Si/iMH.'.  rF>,,s,ii  K,i.'    Nfamm. )  N.^U,  p.  330,  Esp„  547. 
U 


i 


86 


CHIPPING  SQUIRREL 


SciURUS  SiiUAius,  Hiulan,  Fauna,  p,  183. 

"  "  Godman,  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  142. 

SciuRus  (Tamias)  Lysteiu,  Rich.,  F.  15.  A.,  p.  181,  plate  l.'j. 

"  "  "  Doughty's  Cabinet  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.   .,  p.  169,  pi,  lb 

SciuuL's  Striatls,  DcKay,  Nut.  Hist,  of  N.  Y.,  part  1,  p.  62,  pi.  16,  %.  1. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Body,  rather  slender;  forehead,  arched;  head,  tapering  from  th^^ 
ears  to  the  nose,  Avhich  is  covered  with  short  hairs  ;  nostrils,  opening 
downwards,  margins  and  septum  naked  ;  whiskers,  shorter  tlian  the  bead. 
A  few  bristles  on  the  cheeks  and  above  the  eye-brows  ;  eyes,  of  moderate 
si/e ;  ears,  ovate,  rounded,  erect,  covered  with  short  hiiir  on  both  sur- 
faces, hot  tuited,  the  hair  on  those  parts  simply  covering  the  margins, 
('licek-pouches,  of  tolerable  size,  extending  on  the  sides  of  the  neck  to  a 
little  below  the  ear,  opening  into  the  mouth  between  the  incisors  and  mo- 
hirs.  Fore-feet,  with  four  slender,  compressed,  slightly-curved  claws, 
and  the  rudiment  of  a  thumb,  covered  with  a  short  blunt  n-  11 ;  hind-leet, 
long  and  slender,  with  five  toes,  the  middle  toe  being  a  little  the  longest. 
Tail,  rather  short  and  slender,  nearly  cylindrical  above,  dilated  on  the 
sides,  not  bushy,  sub-distichous.  Hair  on  the  whole  body  short  and 
smooth,  but  not  very  fine. 

COLOUR. 

A  small  black  spot  aliove  the  nose ;  forehead,  yellowish  brown  ;  above 
and  beneath  the  eyelids,  white  ;  whiskers  and  eyelashes,  black ;  a  dark 
l)rown  streak  running  from  the  sides  of  the  iiice  through  the  eye  and 
reaching  tne  ear ;  a  yellowish  brown  stripe  extending  from  near  the  nose, 
running  under  the  eye  to  behind  the  ear,  deepening  into  ehesnut-brown 
immediately  below  the  eye,  where  the  stripe  is  considerably  dilated. 

.\nterior  portion  of  the  back,  hoary  gray,  tlus  colour  being  ibrmed  by  a 
mixture  of  gray  and  black  hairs.  Colour  of  the  rump,  extending  to  a  little 
l)eyond  the  root  of  the  tail,  hips,  and  exterior  surface  of  the  thighs,  red- 
dish fawn,  a  few  Ijiack  hairs  sprinkled  among  the  rest,  not  sufficiently 
nunu'rous  to  give  a  darker  shade  to  those  parts.  A  dark  dorsal  line  com- 
mencing back  of  the  head  is  dilated  on  the  middle  of  the  back,  and  runs 
to  a  point  within  an  inch  of  the  root  of  the  tail ;  this  line  is  brownish  on 
the  shoulder,  but  deepens  into  black  in  its  prosrress  downwards. 

On  each  flank  there  is  a  broad  yellowish-while  line,  miming  from  llu 
shoulder  to  tlie  thighs,  bordered  on  rach  side  with  black.  The  species 
may  be  characterized  by  its  having  live  black  and  two  v.'hi(e  stripes  on  a 
gray  ground.     The  Hanks,  sides,  and  upf)er  surface  of  feet  and  oars,  •\rr 


CHIPPING  SQUIRREL. 


67 


redd,sh-gray;  whole  under  surface  white,  with  no  line  of  demarcation 
bet^.  een  the  co  ours  of  the  back  and  belly.  Tail,  brown  at  its  root,  after- 
wards  gray.sh-back,  the  hair  being  clouded  and  in  some  places  Landed 
with  black  ;  underneath,  reddish-brown,  with  a  border  of  black,  edged 
with  light  gray.  ° 

There  are  some  varieties  observable  among  specimens  procured  in  dif- 
ferent  States  of  the  Umon.  We  have  noted  it,  like  the  Virginian  deer, 
becommg  smaller  m  size  at  it  was  found  farther  to  the  South.  In  Maine 
and  New  Hampshire  it.is  larger  than  in  the  mountains  of  Carolina  and 
Louisiana,  arul  the  tints  of  those  seen  at  the  North  were  lighter  than  the 
colouring  of  the  Southern  specimens  we  have  examined.  We  possess  an 
albino,  sent  to  us  aliv-e,  snow-white,  with  red  eyes ;  and  also  another  spe- 
oimen  jet-l,laek.'  We  have,  however,  found  no  intermediate  varieties, 
and  in  general  we  may  remark  that  the  species  of  this  genus  are  not  ^ 
prone  to  variations  m  colour  as  those  of  the  true  Squirrels. 


DIMENSIONS. 


Length  of  head  and  body 
head      -         '. 
tail  (vertebrae) 
tail,  including  fur 

Height  of  ear 

Breadth  of  ear 


Inches. 

Liiiea. 

6 

3 

1 

6 

3 

7 

4 

7 

0 

4 

0 

31 

III 


HABITS. 

The  Chipping  Squirrel,  as  this  little  animal  i.  usually  called,  or  Ground 
^quirre  as  it  is  named  almost  as  f^eqiienHy,  is  probably,  with  the  excJ^ 
tion  of  the  common  flymg  squirrel,  (Pfcromj,s  rolucrlh,,)  one  of  the  mos^ 
interesting  of  our  small  quadrupeds.  It  is  found  in  most  part  of  the 
Unrnxl  States,  nnd  boin.  beautifnlly  mnrked  in  its  colouring,  is  known  to 
every  body.  From  its  lively  and  busy  habits,  one  might  co^Z 
nong  the  quadrupeds  as  occupying  the  place  of  ,he  u-ren  Long  th      ea 

-th  the  utmost  grace  nnd  agility  among  the  broken  rocks  or  imroote' 
...nps  of    rees  abo,.t  th.   farm  or  wood  pasture;  its  clnckin.  res'ele 
'-I..P,  .-hip.  eh.p.  of  ayo,m.  cl.ickon,  nnd  al.l.ou.h  no<     .aisicarn" 
^  s.ig  o,  tlK^.,    ..  winter  wren,  excites  agreeable  thoughts  as  it  Lm!: 
u    the  an      We  fancy  we  see  one  of  these  sprightiv  Chipping  Squirrell 
as  he  runs  be(<,re  us  with  the  speed  of  a  bird,  skiaimin^   L^l  ~  "-^ 


L 


l!'. 


68 


CHIPPING  SQUIRREL 


fence,  his  chops  distended  by  the  nuts  he  has  gathered  in  the  woods;  he 
makes  no  pause  till  he  reaches  the  entrance  of  his  subterranean  retreat 
and  store-house.  Now  he  stands  upright,  and  his  chattering  cry  is  heard, 
but  at  the  first  step  we  make  towards  him,  he  disappears.  Stone  after 
stone  we  remove  from  the  aperture  leading  to  his  deep  and  circuitous 
burrow;  but  in  vain  is  all  our  labour — with  our  hatchets  we  cut  the 
tangled  roots,  and  as  we  follow  the  animal,  patiently  digging  into  his  in- 
nermost retreat,  we  hear  his  angry,  querulous  tones.  We  get  within  a 
few  inches  of  him  now,  and  can  already  see  his  large  dark  eyes  ;  but  at 
this  moment  out  he  rushes,  and  ere  we  can  "grab'"  him,  has  passed  us, 
and  finds  security  in  some  other  hiding  place,  of  which  there  are  always 
plenty  at  hand  that  he  is  well  accustomed  to  fly  to ;  and  we  willingly 
leave  him  unmolested,  to  congratulate  himself  on  his  escape. 

The  Chipping  Squirrel  makes  his  burrow  generally  near  the  roots  of 
trees,  in  the  centre  of  a  decayed  stump,  along  fences  or  old  walls,  or  in 
some  bank,  near  the  woods  whence  he  obtains  the  greater  portion  of  his 
food. 

Some  of  these  retreats  h.ave  two  or  three  openings  at  a  little  distance 
from  each  other.  It  rarely  happens  that  this  animal  is  cauglit  by  digging 
out  its  burrow.  When  hard  pressed  and  closely  pursued  it  will  betake 
itself  to  a  tree,  the  trunk  *>{'  which  it  ascends  for  a  little  distance  with 
considerable  rapidity,  occasionally  concealing  itself  behind  a  large  branch, 
but  generally  stopping  within  twelve  or  fifteen  feet  of  the  ground 
where  it  often  clings  with  its  body  so  closely  pressed  to  the  trunk  that  it 
is  difficult  to  detect  it ;  and  it  remains  so  immovable  that  it  appears  like 
a  piece  of  bark  or  some  excrescence,  till  the  enemy  has  retired  from  the 
vicinity,  when  it  once  more  descends,  and  by  its  renewed  clucking  seems 
to  chuckle  over  its  escttpe. 

We  are  do»i1>"'ul  whether  this  species  can  at  any  time  be  perfectly 
tamed.  We  have  preserved  it  in  cages  from  time  to  time,  and  generally 
found  it  wild  and  sullen.  Those  we  had,  however,  were  not  young  when 
captured. 

At  a  subsequent  period  we  obtained  in  the  State  of  New- York  five 
or  six  young  ones  almost  half  grown.  We  removed  them  to  Carolina, 
where  they  were  kept  during  winter  and  spring.  They  were  somewhat 
more  gentle  than  those  we  had  formerly  possessed,  occasionally  took  a 
filbert  or  a  ground-nut  from  the  fingers,  but  never  became  tame  enough 
to  be  handled  with  safety,  as  they  on  more  than  one  occasion  were  dis- 
posed to  test  the  sharpness  of  tlicir  teeth  on  our  hand. 

The  skin  which  covered  the  vertebrae  of  their  tails  was  so  brittle  tliat 
nearly  all  of  them  soon  had  mutilated  them.     They  appeared  to  have  some 


CHTPPTNO  SQriTRREL. 


69 


aversion  to  playing  in  a  wheel,  which  is  so  favourite  an  amusement  of 
the  true  sijuirrels.  During  the  whole  winter  they  only  left  their  nest  to 
carry  into  it  the  rice,  nuts,  Indian  corn,  &c.,  placed  in  their  cage  as  food. 
Late  in  the  following  spring,  having  carried  on  our  experiments  as  far 
as  we  cared  to  pursi  j  them,  we  released  our  pets,  which  were  occasionally 
seen  in  the  vicinity  for  several  months  afterward,  when  they  disappeared. 

We  were  once  informed  of  a  strange  carnivorous  propensity  in  this 
species.  A  lady  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston  said  to  us,  "  We  had  in  our 
garden  a  nest  of  young  robins,  {Tardus  migratorius)  and  one  afternoon 
as  I  was  walking  in  the  garden,  I  happened  to  pass  very  close  to  the  tree 
on  which  this  nest  was  placed ;  my  attention  was  attracted  by  a  noise 
which  I  thought  proceeded  from  it,  and  on  looking  up  I  saw  a  Ground 
Squirrel  tearing  at  the  nest,  and  actually  devouring  one  of  the  young 
ones.  I  called  to  the  gardener,  who  came  accompanied  by  a  dog,  and 
shook  the  tree  violer.tly,  when  the  animal  fell  to  the  earth,  and  was  in  an 
instant  secured  by  the  dog."  We  do  not  conceive  that  the  unnatural 
propensity  in  the  individi.al  hero  referred  to,  is  indicative  of  the  genuin*^ 
habit  of  this  species,  but  think  that  it  may  be  regarded  as  an  exception 
o  a  general  rule,  and  referred  to  a  morbid  depravity  of  taste  some- 
times to  bo  observed  in  other  genera,  leading  an  individual  to  feed  upon 
that  which  the  rest  of  the  species  would  loathe  and  reject.  Thus  we 
have  known  a  horse  which  preferred  a  string  of  fish  to  a  mess  of  oats ; 
and  mocking-birds,  in  confinement,  kill  and  devour  jays,  bluck-birds,  or 
sparrows. 

We  saw  and  caught  a  specimen  of  this  beautiful  Tamias  in  Louisiana, 
that  had  no  less  than  sixteen  chinquapin  nuts  {Castanca  pnmila) 
stowed  away  in  its  cheek-pouches.  We  have  a  specimen  now  lying  be- 
fore us,  sent  from  Pennsylvania  in  alcohol,  which  contains  at  least  one 
!ind  a  half  lable-spoonfuls  of  Bush  trefoil  {Hcdijsnnim  cannahinum)  in  its 
widely-distended  sacks.  We  have  represented  one  of  our  figures  in  the 
plate  with  its  pouches  thus  tilled  out. 

This  species  is  to  a  certain  extent  gregarious  in  its  habits.  We  had 
marked  one  of  its  burrows  in  autumn  which  we  conceived  well  adapted 
•o  our  purpose,  which  was  to  dig  it  out.  It  was  in  the  woods  on  a  sandj 
oiece  of  ground  antl  the  earth  was  stroW(>d  with  leaves  to  the  depth  o 
eight  inches,  which  we  believi-d  would  prevent  the  frost  from  penetrat- 
ing to  any  considerable  depth.  We  had  tlic  place  opened  in  January, 
when  the  ground  was  eoverrd  with  snow  about  five  inches  deep.  The 
entranf';'  of  llie  burrow  liad  ■, m  dosed  from  within.  We  followed  the 
course  of  the.  small  winding  gallery  with  considerable  dilHculty.  The  hole 
Jescended  at  first  iUmost  piu-pendicularly   Ibr  about  three  feet.     It  then 


', 


ro 


CHIPPING  SQUIRREL 


i  Ji 


continuod  with  one  or  two  wiiuliiiKP,  rising  a  litlle  nearer  the  surlace  un- 
til it  had  advanced  about  eiglit  feet,  wlien  we  came  to  a  hirge  nest  made 
of  onk  leaves  and  dried  grasses.  Here  lay,  snugly  covered,  three  Chip- 
ping Squirrels.  Another  was  subsequently  dug  from  one  of  the  small  la- 
leral  gallei'ies,  to  which  it  had  evidently  retreated  to  avoid  us.  They  were 
not  dormant,  and  seemed  ready  to  bite  when  taken  in  the  hand  ;  but  they 
were  not  very  active,  and  appeared  somewhat  sluggish  and  benumbed, 
which  we  conjectured  was  owing  to  their  being  exposed  to  sudden  cold 
from  our  having  opened  their  burrow. 

There  was  about  a  gill  of  wheat  and  buckwheat  in  the  nest ;  but  in  the 
galleries  we  afterwards  dug  out,  we  obtained  about  a  quart  of  the  beaked 
hazel  nuts,  {Coryliis  rostrata,)  nearly  a  peck  of  acorns,  some  grains  of  In- 
dian corn,  about  two  quarts  of  buckwheat,  and  a  very  small  quantity  ol 
grass  seeds.  The  late  Dr.  .Ioii\  Wright,  o.f  Troy,  in  an  interesting  com- 
munication ^n  the  habits  of  several  of  our  quadrupeds,  informs  us,  in  re- 
ference to  this  species,  that  "It  is  a  most  provident  little  creature,  con- 
tinuing to  add  to  its  winter  store,  if  food  is  abundant,  until  driven  in  by 
the  severity  of  the  frost.  Indeed,  it  seems  not  to  know  when  it  has 
enough,  if  we  may  judge  by  the  surplus  left  in  the  spring,  being  some- 
times a  peck  of  corn  or  nuts  for  a  single  S(iuirrel.  Some  years  ago  I 
watched  one  of  these  animals  whilst  laying  up  its  winter  store.  As  there 
were  no  nuts  to  be  found  near,  I  furnished  a  supply.  AfT-er  scattering 
some  hickory  nuts  on  the  ground  near  the  burrow,  the  work  of  carrying 
in  was  immediately  commenced.  It  soon  became  aware  that  I  was  a 
friend,  and  approached  almost  to  my  feet  for  my  gifts.  It  would  take  a 
nut  from  its  paws,  and  dexterously  bite  off  the  sharp  point  from  each  end, 
and  then  pass  it  to  its  cheek-pouch,  using  its  paws  to  shove  it  in,  then  one 
would  ])e  placed  on  the  opposite  side,  then  again  one  along  with  the  first, 
and  finally,  having  taken  one  between  its  front  teeth,  it  would  go  into 
the  burrow.  After  remaining  there  for  five  or  ten  minutes  it  would  re- 
app(\ar  for  another  load.  This  was  repeated  in  my  presence  a  great 
number  of  times,  the  animal  alwajs  carrying  four  nuts  at  a  time,  and 
fvl'vays  biting  off  the  asperities.'* 

We  perceive  from  hence  that  the  Chipping  Squirrels  retire  to  winter 
jarters  in  small  families  in  the  early  part  of  November,  sooner  or  later 
ecording  to  the  coldness  or  mildness  of  the  season,  after  providing  a 
store  of  food  in  their  subterranean  winter  residence.  When  the  snows 
are  melted  from  the  earlh.in  early  spring,  they  l(>ave  the  retreat  to  which 
tliey  had  resorted  during  the  first  severe  irosts  in  autumn.  \Yv  have 
seen  them  sunning  themselves  on  a  stump  during  warm  days  about  tlie 
iarft  of  February,  when  the  snows  were  still  on  the  eartli  here  and  there 


CHIPPING  SQUIRREL. 

71 

In  patches  a  foot  deep;  we  remarked,  however,  that  they  remained  only 
tor  half  an  hour,  when  they  a-ain  retreated  to  their  harrows 

The  young  are  produced  in  May,  to  the  numher  of  four'  or  five  at  a 
birth,  and  we  have  sometimes  supposed  li-om  the  eii-cumstance  of  seeing 
a  young  hrood  in  August,  that  they  breed  twice  a  year. 

The  Chipping  Squirrel   does  but  little  injury  to  the  farmer.     It  seldom 

djs  urbs  the  grain  before  it  is  ripe,  and  i«  scarcely  more  than  a  gleaner 

ol  .he  helds   commg  in  for  a  small  pittance  when  the  harvest  is  nearly 

gathered.     It  prefers  wheat  to  rye,  seems  fond  of  buckwheat,  but  o-ives 

the  preference  to  mus,  cherry-stones,  the  seeds  of  the  red  gum,  or  penper- 

ulg^   iN,ssa  MnlUflora,)  and  those  of  several  annual  plants  and  grasses. 

1  lus  species  ,s  easily  captured.     It  enters  almost  any  kind  of  trap  with- 

out  suspicion      We  have  seen  a  beautilul  muff  and  tippet  made  of  a  host 

ot  little  skins  of  this  Tamias  ingeniously  joined  together  so  as  to  .nve  the 

appearruico  of  a  regular  series  of  stripes  around  the  muff,  and  lo^ntudi- 

nally  along  the  sides  of  the  tippet.     The  animals  had  in  most  cases  been 

captured  in  rat-traps. 

There  is,  besides,  a  simple,  rustic,  but  effectual  mode  of  huntin-  the 
Ground  Squirrel,  to  which  we  are  tempted  to  devote  a  paragraph       " 

Man  has  his  hours  of  recreation,  and  so  has  the  school-boy;  while  the 
former  ,s  fond  of  the  chase,  and  keeps  his  horses,  .logs  and  guns  the  lat- 
ter when  released  from  school  gets  up  a  little  hunt  agreeable  to  his  own 
taste  and  limited  resource...  The  boys  have  not  yet  been  allowed  to  carry 
hre-arms,  and  have  been  obliged  to  adhere  to  the  command  of  a  careful 
mother-" do.i't  meddle  with  that  gun,  IJilly,  it  may  go  off  and  kill  you  " 
But  the  Chip  Muck  can  be  hunted  without  a  gun,  and  Saturday  the 
glorious  weekly  return  of  their  Ireedom  and  indej)endence  from'  the 
crabbed  schoolmaster  and  the  puzzli.ig  spelling-book,  is  selected  for  the 
important  event. 

There  are  some  very  pleasing  reminiscences  associated  with  these  little 
sports  of  boyhood.  •  The  lads,  hurried  by  delightful  anticipations  usually 
meet  half  an  hour  before  the  time  appointed.  They  come  with  theii 
"shining  morning  faces"  full  of  glee  and  talking  of  their  expected  sue- 
cess.  In  lieu  of  fire-arms  they  each  carry  a  stick  about  eight  feet  Ion- 
They  go  along  the  old-fashioned  worm-fences  that  skirt  the  woo(N— a 
crop  of  wheat  or  of  buckwheat  has  just  been  gathered,  and  the  little 
Ilacket!  is  busily  engaged  in  collecting  its  winter  store. 

In  every  direction  its  lively  chirrup  is  heard,  with  answering  calls  <rom 
a.Ijncenv  i»nrts  of  the  woods,  and  here  and  there  you  may  observe  one 
mounted  on  the  top  of  a  f.  .lec-stake,  and  chipping  awav  as  it  were  in  ex- 
ullalion  at  his  elevat.'d  «eal.     One  of  the  tiny  huntsmen  now  places  his. 


72 


CHIPPING  SQUIRREL. 


pole  on  a  fence  rail,  tlie  second  or  third  IVoni  the  bottom,  along  which  the 
Ground  Sijuirrcl  is  tixpected  to  pass;  a  lew  yards  behind  him  is  another 
youngster,  ready  with  his  stick  on  another  rail,  in  case  the  Chip  Muck 
escapes  the  first  enemy.  One  of  the  juveniles  now  makes  a  circuit,  gets 
behind  the  little  Hackee  and  gives  a  blow  on  the  fence  to  drive  him  to- 
ward the  others,  who  tire  eagerly  expecting  him.  The  unsuspecting  little 
creature,  with  a  sweep  of  his  half-erected  tail,  (juickly  descends  from  the 
top  of  the  fence  along  a  stake,  and  betaking  himself  to  some  of  the  lower 
rails,  makes  a  raj)id  retreat.  If  no  stone-heaps  or  burrows  are  at  hand, 
he  runs  along  the  winding  fence,  and  as  he  is  passing  the  place  where  the 
young  sportsmen  are  lying  in  wait,  they  brush  the  stick  along  the  rail 
with  the  celerity  of  thought,  hitting  the  little  creature  on  the  nose,  and 
knocking  him  off.  "He  is  ours,"  is  the  exulting  shout,  and  the  whole 
pilrty  now  hurry  to  the  spot.  Perhaps  the  little  animal  is  not  dead,  only 
stunned,  and  is  carried  home  to  be  made  a  pet.  He  is  put  into  a  calabash, 
a  stocking,  or  a  small  bag  prepared  for  the  occasion  by  some  fond  little 
sister,  Avho  whilst  sewing  it  for  her  brother  half  longed  to  enjoy  the  romp 
and  the  sport  herself.  Reader,  don't  smile  at  this  group  of  juvenile  sports- 
men; older  and  l>igger  "boys"  are  often  engaged  in  amusements  not 
more  rational,  and  not  half  so  innocent. 

Several  species  of  hawks  are  successful  in  capturing  the  Chipping 
Stpiirrel.  It  furnishes  also  many  a  meal  for  the  hungry  fox,  the  wild  cat, 
and  the  mink  -,  but  it  possesses  an  enemy  in  the  common  weasel  or  ermine, 
{mnsli'hi  ( rmiiiru)  more  formidable  'lan  all  the  rest  combined.  This  blood- 
thirsty little  animal  pursues  it  into  its  dwelling,  and  following  it  to  the 
farthest  extremity,  strikes  his  teeth  into  its  skull,  and  like  a  cruel  savage 
of  the  wilderness,  does  not  satiate  his  thirst  for  blood  until  he  has  destroyed 
every  inhabitant  of  the  burrow,  old  and  young,  although  he  seldom  devours 
one  tifth  of  th(!  animals  so  wantonly  killed.  We  once  observed  one  pur- 
sue a  Chipping  Squirrel  into  its  burrow.  After  an  interval  of  ten  mi- 
nutes it  renppcared,  licking  its  mouth,  and  stroking  its  fur  with  its  head 
by  the  aid  of  its  long  neck.  We  watched  it  as  it  pursued  its  way  through 
a  buckwheat  field,  in  which  many  roots  and  stumps  were  yet  remaining, 
evidently  in  (]uest  of  additional  victims.  On  the  following  day  we  were 
impelled  by  curiosity  to  open  the  burrow  we  had  seen  it  enter.  There 
we  found  an  old  female  ground  squirrel  and  five  young,  half-grown,  lying 
dead,  with  the  marks  of  the  wfeasel's  teeth  in  their  skulls. 


GEOGRArniCAI,    DISTRIBUTION. 


The  Chipping  Squirrel   has  a  pretty   wide  geographical  range.     It  is 
somnioii  on  (lie  iiordifrii  shuns  mT  Lakes  Huron   and  Superior ;  and  hiis 


CHIPPIN(J  SQUIRREL. 


n 


been  traced  as  far  as  the  fiftieth  degree  of  north  latitude.  In  the 
Easfeni,  Northern,  and  Middle  States,  it  is  quite  abu.dant ;  it  exists 
alon-  the  whole  of  the  Alleghany  range,  and  is  found  in  the  mountainou.- 
portions  of  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  and  Alabama.  In  the  alluvial  dis- 
triets  of  Carolina  and  Georgia  it  disappears.  We  have  never  found  it 
nearer  the  seaboard  of  South  Carolina  than  at  Columbia,  one  hundred 
and  ten  miles  from  Charleston,  where  it  is  very  rare.  It  is  found  in  Ten- 
nessee and  throughout  Louisiana. 

GENERAL    REMARKS. 

We  have  at  the  head  of  this  article  endeavoured  to  preserve  Tamias 
as  a  valuable  genus  distinct  from  Sciurus.  We  hope  we  have  offered 
such  reasons  as  will  induce  naturalists  to  separate  this  interesting  and 
mcreasing  little  group,  mostly  of  American  species,  from  the  squirrels,  to 
which  they  bear  about  the  same  affinity  as  do  the  marmot  squirrels 
(Spehmopiiilus)  to  the  true  marmots  (Arctomys).  We  will  now  inquire 
whether  the  present  species  {Tamias  Lysteri)  is  a  foreigner  from  Sibe- 
ria, naturalized  in  our  Western  world ;  or  whether  it  is  one  of  the  abori- 
gines of  our  country,  as  much  entitled  to  a  name  as  the  grisly  bear  or 
the  cougar. 

Two  of  our  American  naturalists,  Harlan  and  Godman,  supposed  that  it 
was  the  Asiatic  species,  the  «f.  striatus  of  Klein,  Pallas,  Schreber,  and 
other  authors ;  Dr.  Richardson  (1829)  believed  that  the  descriptions  given 
of  Sciurus  striatus  did  not  exactly  correspond  with  American  specimens, 
and  as  he  had  no  opportunity  of  instituting  a  comparison,  he  adopt- 
ed the  specific  name  of  Ray,  Sciurus  (Tamias)  Lysteri,  for  our  species ; 
and  quoted  what  Pallas  had  written  in  regard  to  the  habits  of  the  Asia- 
tic animal,  as  applying  to  those  of  our  little  Chipping  Squirrel.  Very  re- 
cently (1842)  Dr.  Dekay,  in  the  work  on  American  quadrupeds,  published 
by  order  of  the  State  of  .New- York,  has  again  referred  it  to  S.  striatus  of 
LiNN.Kus,  and  endeavoured  to  prove  the  identity  of  the  two  species  from 
European  writers.  We  suspect  he  had  no  opportunity  of  making  a  com- 
parison from  actual  specimens. 

Reasoning  from  analogy  in  regard  to  the  species  of  birds  or  quadru- 
peds found  to  be  identical  on  both  continents,  we  should  be  compelled  to 
admit  that  if  our  species  is  the  S.  striatus  of  Asia,  it  presents  a  solitary 
exception  to  a  long-established  general  rule.  That  many  species  of  wa- 
ter-birds,  such  as  geese,  ducks,  gulls,  auks,  and  guillemots,  which  during 
the  long  days  of  summer  crowd  toward  the  polar  regions  to  engage  in 
the  duties  and  pleasures  of  reproduction,  should  be  found  on  both  con- 
tinents, cannot  be  a  nxatter  of  surprise  ;  and  that  the  ptarmigan,  the  white 

10 


^ 


74 


CHIPPING  SQUiKREL. 


snow-bird,  Lapland  lonjor-spur,  &c.,  which  resort  annually  to  theni, 
8hould  at  that  season  take  wkig  and  stray  to  either  continent,  is  so  proba- 
ble a  case,  that  we  might  think  it  strange  if  it  were  otherwise.  Neither 
need  we  regard  it  as  singular  if  a  few  quadrupeds,  with  peculiar  con- 
stitutions and  habits  suited  to  the  polar  regions,  siiould  be  inhabitants  of 
the  northern  portions  of  both  continents.  Thus  the  polar  bear,  which 
delights  in  snow  and  ice,  and  which  is  indiHtirent  as  to  whether  it 
is  on  the  land  or  on  an  iceberg  at  sea ;  the  reindeer,  which  exists  only  in 
cold  regions,  and  which  by  alternately  swimming  and  walking  can  make 
its  way  over  the  icy  waters  in  winter,  and  over  rivers  and  arms  of  the 
sea  m  summer,  and  which  migrates  lor  thousands  of  miles  ;  the  beaver, 
which  is  found  all  over  our  continent,  on  the  banks  of  the  Mackenzie 
river  leading  into  the  polar  sea  in  latitude  08",  and  in  the  Russian  settle- 
ments near  Behring's  JSf  raits ;  the  ermine,  which  riots  in  the  snow-drifts, 
and  has  been  found  as  far  to  the  north  as  man  has  ever  travelled  ;  and 
the  common  wolf,  which  is  a  cosmopolite,  exhibits  itself  in  all  colours, 
and  strays  from  the  tropics  to  the  north  pole ;  may  be  found  on  both  con- 
tinents without  surprising  us :  but  if  this  little  land-animal,  the  Chipping 
Squirrel,  which  is  unable  to  swim,  and  retires  to  the  earth  in  cold  wea- 
ther, should  be  found  both  in  Asia  and  America,  it  would  oppose  all  our 
past  experience  in  regard  to  American  quadrupeds,  and  be  the  only  ex- 
ception to  a  long  and  universally  admitted  theory.  The  highest  northern 
range  in  which  this  species  has  ever  been  seen  is  above  Lake  Huron, 
as  far  as  latitude  T)!)" ;  from  thence  there  is  a  distance  of  more  than 
90°  of  longitude  and  18°  of  latitude  bcifore  we  reach  its  Asiatic  range, 
and  in  its  migrations  either  way  it  would  have  to  cross  Behring's  Straits, 
and  traverse  regions  which  even  in  summer  are  covered  with  snow  and 
ice.  From  the  above  facts  and  from  our  knowledg  of  the  adaptation  of 
various  animals  for  extensive  migrations,  we  must  conclude  that  this  spe- 
'^ies  cannot  possibly  exist  on  both  continents,  even  admitting  the  correct- 
ness of  the  supposition  that  these  continents  had  in  some  former  age  been 
united. 

Dr.  RiciiARusoN  says,  (p.  181,)  "I  am  not  aware  that  the  identity  of  the 
species  on  the  two  continents  has  been  established  by  actual  comparison." 
In  this  he  was  quite  correct.  At  the  period  when  his  valuable  work 
on  American  quadrupeds  was  published,  nearly  all  the  figures  and  many 
of  the  descriptions  of  Tarnias  striatus  of  the  Eastern  continent  were  taken 
from  American  specimens  of  Tdmids  Lijstcri ;  and  the  authors  supposing 
them  to  be  identical,  were  not  sufficiently  cautious  to  note  this  hnportant 
fact. 

In  1838  we  carded  to  Europe,  American  si)ecimens  of  nearly  all  thos*^ 


CHIPPING  SQUIRREL, 


75 


Fpecies  wliich  had  thoir  oonKeners  on  the  Eastern  continent.     We  were 
fiurpris.'d  at  liiidint,'  no  spcciriicn  of  the  T.  strialus  in  the  museums  of 
either  i:n-land  or  France.     At  IJcrliii,  however,  an  excellent  opportunity 
was   afforded  us    for  iiistitutinf!;  a  comparison.      Througli   the    kindness 
of  Dr.  LiciiTENSTEiN,  Superintendent  of  the   museum,  we  were  permitted 
to   open    Ihe    cases,    (>xaminc    several    specimens    in   a    fine    state    of 
'preservation,    and    comp:ire    them   with  our   American    species,   which 
we  placed  heside  them.     The  differences,  at  Hrst  sight  were  so  striking 
that  we  could  only  account  for  their  ever  having  been  considered  identi- 
cal,  from  the  fact  that  the  descriptions  of  the  old  authors  were  so  loose 
and  unsatisfactory  that  many  minute  but  important  ehaiacteristics  had 
not  been  noted.     The   following  memorandum   was  made  by  us  on  the 
occasion:— "The  Tamias  striaf-is  differs  so  widely  from  our  American 
Cliipping  Stjuirrtd  or  Hackee,  that  it  is  unnecessary  to  be  venj  minute  in 
making  the  comparison.     The  two  species  can  always  be  distinguished 
from  each  other  by  one  remarkable  characteristic,  which  I  have  observed 
running  through  all  the  specimens.     The  stripes  on  thj  Asiatic  {'/'.  stria- 
tus)  running  over  the  back  extend  to  the  root  of  the  tail ;    whilst  those 
on  the  American   (T.  Lystcri)  do  not  reacli  so  far  by  a  full  inch.     There 
are  many  other  differences  which  may  as  well  be  noticed.     T.  stria- 
tus  is  a  little  the   largest,  the  strii)es  on  the  back  are  situated  nearer 
each  other,  and  are  broader  than  in  the  other  species ;  the  stripes  on  each 
side  of  the  back  are  nearly  black  instead  of  yellowish-brown  ;  on  each 
side  of  the  black  stripe  on  the  centre  of  the  back  of  Tamias  Lysteri,  there 
is  a  broad  space  of  reddish-gray.     In  T.  striatus  this  part  of  the  ani- 
mal  is  yellowish ;  being  an  alternate  stripe  of  blacl  and  yellowish-wfiite. 
The  tail  of  the  latter  is  black  towards  the  extremity,  and  tipped  with 
white;  its  tail  and  ears  also  are  larger  than  those  of  T.  I.tjsten:  in  short, 
these  two  species  differ  as  widely  from  each  other  as    Tamias  Lysten 
diffei-s  from  the  four-lined  ground  squirrel  of  Say,  (T.  quadrivittatus.) 


76 


GENUS  SPERMOPH.LUS.    F.  CtrviEU 


DENIAL    FORMULA. 


fncmve  - ;  Canine  — ;    Molar  —  =  22 

9  0-0  4-4 

Tie  rf«ntition  of  tho  Spcrmopliilrs  did'cw  from  that  of  the  i.ut  mar 
moli  in  the  follovvinj?  j)arliculars.  Tlic  Hrst  h)nf;ifu(liiial  eminence  (col- 
line)  is  nearly  obliterated,  and  tho  curve  (talon)  which  unites  the  second 
tc  the  third  is  prolonyjed  much  more  internally,  which  makes  the  mohirs 
Qi  tho  SiXTmo})Iiilps  more  n.irrow  transversely  than  lon<,'ifudinaliy,  as 
;ompared  witli  those  of  the  marmots.  Tlie  fieth  of  tlic  souslik  (Sprnno. 
philus  citillus)  were  examined  by  F.  Cuvier,  and  considered  as  typical  of 
this  f^enus. 

Nose,  convex  ;  ears,  generally  short ;  cheek-pouches. 
Body,  rather  short ;    mammne,    pectoral  and  abdominal,   from   eight  to 
t  ivelve. 

Feet,  of  moderate  length,  adapted  for  walking  on  the  ground ;  nails, 
less  in  size  than  those  of  the  marmots,  less  hooked  than  those  of  the 
squirrels  ;  on  the  fore-feet,  four  ,;oes,  with  the  rudiment  of  a  thumb,  pro- 
tected by  a  blunt  nail ;  second  toe  from  the  thumb  longest,  as  in  the 
marmots,  and  not  the  third,  as  in  the  squirrels ;  liiiid-fcet,  with  five  toes. 

Tail,  generally  rather  short,  aiul  always  shorter  than  the  body;  in 
several  of  the  species  capable  of  a  slightly  distichous  arrangement. 

The  species  belonging  to  this  genus  differ  from  flic  true  marmots,  not 
only  in  their  teeth,  as  shown  above,  but  al.so  in  several  other  striking 
particulars.  They  have  cheek-pouches,  of  which  the  marmots  are  desti- 
tute. They  are  by  no  means  clumsy,  and  in  form  are  rather  slender,  and 
possess  a  degree  of  lightness  and  agility  approaching  the  activifj-  of  the 
squirrels. 

With  the  genus  Tamias  they  assimilate  so  closely,  that  some  of  the 
species  present  intermediate  characters,  and  authors  may  well  differ  as 
to  which  genus  they  ought  to  be  referred  to.  Thus  Tamias  qnadrimUa- 
tus,  and  Spermoplnlits  lateralis,  seem  to  form  a  connecting  T.nk  between 
these  two  gen  ;-a.  -.;  is  to  l)c  recollected,  however,  t'nat  analogous  cases 
exist,  not  on!\  Vi..  p.g  ihe  mammalia,  but  in  every  class  of  animals  and 
more  especlahy  ia  i;irds. 


U^ 


PARRY'S  MARMOT-SQIMRRRI,. 


77 


In  referring  again  to  the  il.iilUion  of  thi;sr  allied  genera,  we  may  n- 
marit  that  the  anterior  molar  of  the  upper  Jav.  which  is  deciduous  and 
falls  out  at  an  early  p.  -ukJ  j,,  most  speeies  of  true  srpiirrels,  remains  per- 
manently  in  all  species  of  the  genus  Tamiah  and  is  smaihT  than  in  the 
Spemiophiles.  These  genera  differ  also  in  the  lorm  and  l(>ngth  of  th»!ir 
claws.  The  long  nails  of  the  latter,  the  second  claw,  moreover,  being 
longest,  places  ...em  near  the  marmots;  while  the  .shorter,  weaker, 
and  more  arched  nails  of  the  ground  Mjuirrels,  in  which  the  third  claw,' 
besides,  is  the  longest,  approxi:natcs  them  more  nearly  to  the  true 
squirrels. 

The  clucking  notes  of  the  chipping  squirrels  are  replaced  in  the  mar- 
mot-squirreis  by  the  shrill  whistling  or  chattering  sounds  emitted  by  the 
marmots. 

The  generic  appellation  8f  ermophiius,  is  derived  from  the  Greek 
words  <ntiffta  (xprrmn),  a  seed,  and  ^.A»j  (phi/os),  a  lover. 

There  are  now  twelve  species  of  tJirs  genus  known  as  existing  in  North 
America,  and  three  in  Europj",  and  a  few  are  set  down  as  belonging  to 
Asia  and  Africa.  Some  of  the  latter  may,  however,  after  more  careful 
3xaminat;on,  be  /"  und  to  belong  to  the  genus  Arctomys. 


!,' 


SPERMOPHILUS    P A RRYI.  — Richardson. 

Parrs'    Marmot-Squirrel. — Parry's  Sp.3RMopini.K. 

PLATE  IX.— Male. 

^.  Havo-cinerPHs,  supra  alho  variegatus,  genis,  lateribus.  ventre,  pedi- 
buscme  flavis;  fronte  aureo,  pilis  ex  flavo  et  nigro  ;  ad  radices  flavis, 
apice  nigris 

CHARACTERS. 

General  colour,  yellowish-gray  ;  upper  parts,  mottled  with  white  ;  cheeks, 
sides,  under  parts  of  the  body,  and  feet,  yellow;  fore-part  of  the  head,  deep 
rich  yellow ;  the  hairs  varied  with  yt  low  and  hhick ;  at  the  roots  chiefly  deep 
yellow,  and  at  the  points  principality  black 


78 


PARKY'S  MARMOT-SQUIRREL. 


PYNONYJJES. 

GROosD-SQUinnEL,  Heame's  Journey,  pp.  141  and  386. 

QuEJiEC  Maumot,  Forster,  Phil.  Trans.,  vol.  Ixii.  p.  378 

Arctomvs  Ali'ixa,  Parry,  SltduiI  Voyage,  p.  CI,  narrative. 

Arctomys  Pauryi,  Richardson,  Parry's  Second  Voyage,  App.,  p.  31C. 

Arctomvs  (Spermophilus)  Parrvi,  Rich.,  Fauna  Boreali  Americana,  p.  158,  pi.  10. 

Skek-Seek,  Esquimaux, — THOE-TaiAi  Rock-Badger,  Chipevvyans,  Rich. 


DESCRIPTION. 

This  marmot-squirrel,  although  for  from  being  as  thick  and  heaNy 
as  the  Maryland  marmot,  is  not  nearly  so  light  and  graceful  as  most 
of  the  other  species  of  this  genus,  especially  Sp.  Doiiglaxsii ;  and  in 
form  resembles  the  marmots  more  than  it  does  the  ground  squirrels. 
The  forehead  is  arched,  the  nose  rather  short,  thick,  and  closely  co- 
vered with  short  hair ;  ears,  short,  triangular,  and  situated  above  the 
auditory  opening ;  eyes,  prominent,  and  of  moderate  size  ;  a  few  rather 
slender  hairs  over  the  eyes  ;  along  the  cheeks  are  whiskers,  arranged  in 
five  rows.  Cheek-pouches,  of  medium  dimensions,  and  opening  into  the 
mouth  immediately  behind  the  molars.    < 

Legs  and  feet  rather  short  and  stout ;  toes  well  separated ;  nails  long 
feet  covered  with  short  hairs ;  palms  of  the  fore-feet  naked ;  soles  of  hind- 
feet  for  half  an  inch  next  the  heei  clothed  with  hair,  the  remainder  naked. 
Pail,  rather  flat,  rounded  at  base,  hairs  becoming  longer  towards  the  ex- 
tremity ;  sub-distichous.  The  under  fur  on  every  part  of  the  body,  >■  ~ft' 
glossy,  and  of  a  silky  appearance. 

COLOUR. 

Hairs  of  the  back,  black  at  the  roots,  annulated  above  with  black, 
nearer  the  tips  yellowish-white  or  white  ;  extreme  tips  black. 

The  longest  hairs  black ;  the  under,  black  at  the  base,  then  whitish, 
and  shaded  into  brown  at  the  points.  The  whole  upper  surface  is  irre- 
gularly and  thickly  spotted  with  white ;  the  spots  confluent,  especially 
over  the  shoulders  ;  on  the  belly  the  under-fur  is  abundant,  very  soft  and 
silky ;  grayish-black  at  the  base,  and  yellowish-white  at  the  tips ;  the 
visible  portion  of  the  longer  hairs,  deep  yellow  on  the  sides  of  the  body, 
and  paler  yellow  on  the  belly.  Feet,  yellow ;  hairs  on  the  toes  a  pale 
yellow;  claws  blackish-brown;  the  hinder  half  of  the  tarsus  covered  be- 
neath with  brownish  hairs ;  ujiper  surface  of  the  head,  as  far  back  as 
the  eyes,  of  a  deep  rich  yellow  ;  around  the  eyes  whitish  ;  cheeks  yellow  ; 
chin,  throat,  and  sides  of  the  muzzle,  yellowish-white ;  tail,  at  base,  co- 
laured  like  the  body;  in  the  middle,  the  hairs  are  yellowish,  with  twc 


PARRY'S  MARMUT-SQUIKREL. 


79 


rings  or  bars  of  black  at  the  tips.     The  hairs  on  the  under  surface  of  the 
tail  are  chiefly  of  a  rusty  or  brownish-red  colour;  moustaches  black. 


DIMENSIONS. 


From  nose  to  root  of  tail 
Tail  ^vertebra3) 
Tail,  to  end  of  hair 
From  heel  to  end  of  claw 
From  ear  to  point  of  nose 
Height  of  ear 


ichea. 

Lines 

11 

0 

4 

6 

6 

0 

2 

3 

2 

0 

0 

21 

HABITS. 


The  only  account  we  have  of  this  handsom .  spermophile  is  that  given 

&y  its  talenfed  discoverer,  who  says  of  it, 

"  It  is  found  generally  in  stony  districts,  but  seems  to  delight  chiefly  in 
sandy  hillocks  amongst  rocks,  where  burrows,  inhabited  by  different  in- 
dividuals, may  be  often  observed  crowded  together.     One  of  the  society 
IS  generally  observed  sitting  erect  on  the  summit  of  the  hillocks,  whilst 
rho  others  are  feeding  in  the  neigbourhood.     Upon  the  approach  'of  dan- 
gor,  he  gives  the  alarm,  and  they  instantly  betake  themselves  to   their 
holes,  remaining  chattering,  however,  at  the  entrance  until  the  advance 
of  the  enemy  obliges  them  to  retire  to  the  bottom      When  their  retreat 
is  cut  off  they  become  much  terrified,  and  seeking  shelter  in  the  first  ere- 
vice  that  offers,  they  not  unfrequently  succeed   only  in  hiding  the  head 
.md  fore-part  of  the  body,  whilst  the  projecting  tail  is,  as  usuarwith  them 
when  under  the  influence  of  terror,  spread  out  flat  on  the  rook.     Their 
c;ry  in   this  season  of  distress  strongly  resembles  the  loud  alarm  of  the 
Hudson's  Bay  squirrel,  and  is  not  very  unlike  the  sound  of  a  watchman's 
rattle.     The  Es<,uimaux  name  of  this  animal,  Scck-Seek,  is  an  attempt  to 
express  this  sound.     According  to  IIkarne,  they  are  easily  tamed,  and 
are   very  cleanly  and  playful  in  a  domestic  state.      They  never  come 
abroad  during  the  winter.     Their  food  appears  to  be  entirely  vegetable  ; 
ilieir    pouches  being   generally  observed  to  be  filled,    according  to  the 
season,  with  tender  shoots  of  herbaceous  plants,    berries  of  the  Alpine 
•irbutus   and  of  other  trailing  sl.nibs,  or  the  seeds  of  bents,  grasses,  and 
legumi  loiis  plants.     They  produce  about  seven  young  at  a  time." 

Captain  Ross  iTienlioiis  tliat  soni(>  of  the  dresses  of  the  Esquimaax  at 
iiepulse  Bay,  were  made  of  the  skins  of  this  species;  these  people  alsc 
it'.fornied  him  that  it  was  vtiy  abundant  in  thai  ihhospilable  region. 


!     I 


80 


PAiUlY'S  MARMOT-SQUlllREL. 


OEOGRAPinCAI,  DISTRIBUTION. 

According  to  Dr.  Richaudson,  "tliis  spermophile  inhabits  the  barrc.ii 
grounds  skirting  t!i(^  sfii-coi>st,  iVoni  Cliuirhill,  in  Hudson's  Bay,  round 
by  Melville's  Peninsula,  and  the  -whole  northern  extremity  of  the  Conti- 
nent to  Behring's  Straits,  where  specimens  precisely  similar  vvert;  pro- 
cured by  Captnin  BEr.riiF.Y.  It  abounds  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Fort 
Enterprise,  near  the  southern  verge  of  the  barren  grounds  in  latitude  05'', 
and  is  also  plentiful  on  Cape  Parry,  one  of  the  most  northern  parts  of  the 
continent." 

GENERAL    REMARKS. 

Our  description  of  this  rare  animal  was  drawn  up  from  a  specimen  de- 
j.osited  by  Dr.  KiciiARnsoN  in  the  museum  of  the  Zoological  Society  of 
London,  which  was  said  to  have  been  the  identical  skin  from  which  h\^ 
description  was  taken. 

We  possess  another  specimen,  presented  to  us  by  Dr.  Richardson. 
which  is  a  little  longer  in  the  body  and  shorter  in  I'he  tail  than  the  on« 
we  have  Just  spoken  of;  the  Ixdy  being  12|  inches  in  length,  and  the 
tail  (vertebra^)  3^  inches,  including  fur  5  inches.  The  forehead  and  but- 
tocks of  this  specimen  are  reddish-brown. 


SI 


GENUS  SCALOPS._Cuvrmu 

DtiNTAL    FORMULA. 

Incisv'c  |;  MUur  ~;  False-Molars    —  =  3a 


3-3 


or 


Incisive  -;   Molar  ^;  False-Molars  *^  =  44. 


3-3 


riead,  long  terminated  by  an  extended,  cartilaginous,  flexible,  and 
vanned  ,„uzzlc ;  eyes  and  ears,  concealed  by  the  hair,  and  very  minute. 
H.nd-feet  short  and  slender,  with  five  toes  and  delicate  hooked  nails; 
fore-feet  (or  hands)  broad;  claws,  long  and  flat,  fitted  for  excavating  the 

The  name  Scalops  is  derived  from  the  Greek  ^.aa.,  (skallo,)  and  from 
tlic  Latin  scalpo,  I  scrape. 

The  various  species  included  in  this  genus,  which  approaches  verv 

I'f  H/M'rr""'''^""P^'(''"^«P-"'"°»«')  -'    -^e  believe', 
onfined  to  North  America.     There  are,  so  far  as  we  havc  been  informed 
only  five  species  known  at  the  present  time 


SCALOPS    AQUATICUS.-LiNN. 

Common  American  Shrew  Mole. 
PLATE  X—Mals  and  Fimal.. 

S    magnitudine  Talpa,  Europea,  sinrilis,  corpore  cylindrato.  lanugine 
sricea,  arirenteo-cinnrnn  Jn,l,.f«  '       '"S"" 


^ericea,  argenteo-cinereo  induto 


CIIARAOTB  IB. 


Sizr  of  the  European  mole,  (Talpa ,)  ho,ly,  cylindrical;  fur,  velv^. , 
colour,  sihrnf.irraiiish.hrnwn.  '   J   '*  w^w^V  , 


82 


COMMON  AMEKICAN  SHREW  MOLE. 


8YNONYMES. 

SoREX  Aquaticus,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.,  I'Jtli  ed.  coi-rceted,  vol.  i.,  p.  74. 

Tali'a  FrscA,  IVniiant,  Brit.  Zool..  (^iiadrupi'ds,  314. 

ScALoi'8  Canadknsis,  Desm.,  Mam.,  p.  115. 

ScAi.oi'K  VE  Canada,  Cuv.,  lli'gne  Aiiin;al,  p.  134. 

SiiKfcw  MoLK,  Godnian,  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  i.,  jj.  84,  p!.  5,  tijj.  3. 

ScALOPS  Canadensis,  Harlan,  Fauna,  p.  32    Young. 

"       Pennsylvanica,  Hailan,  Fauna,  p.,  33.  Adull. 

"       Canauenbis,  Emmons,  Kcpoit  on  (iuads.  of  Mass.,  p.  13. 

"       AiiUATicrs,  Bachman,  Observations  on  tlio  Genus  Scalops,  Boston  Joui 
Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  iv..  No.  1.,  p.  28,  1842. 

'•       Aquaticus,  Dekay,  Nat.  Hist,  of  the  State  of  New- York,  p.  15. 

DElJCRIl'TION. 


Adult : — Teeth  30,  corrcspoiuling  with  the  first  dental  formula  of  this 
genus,  given  on  the  preceding  pnge ;  incisors  of  moderate  size,  rounded 
on  their  front  surface  and  flattened  posteriorly.  Immediately  behind 
the  incisors,  two  minute  teeth  on  each  side,  crowded  together — succeed- 
ed by  four  large  false-molnrs,  of  a  cylindrical  .shape,  and  pointed ;  the 
fourth  smallest,  the  fiilh  a  little  larger  and  slightly  lobed,  and  the  sixth, 
which  is  the  largest,  more  conspicuously  lobed ;  followed  by  three  true 
molars,  each  furnished  with  three  sharp  tubercles. 

In  the  lower  or  inferior  jaw,  sixteen  teeth  ;  the  two  posterior  incisors 
very  small,  succeeded  on  each  side  by  anolher  much  larger,  pointed,  and 
extending  forward;  three  false-molnrs  whi(>h  succeed  these  are  pointed, 
and  the  third  and  largest  slightly  lobed;  three  true  molars  composed  of 
two  parallel  p-isms,  terminated  each  by  three  })();uts,  and  "presenting  one 
of  their  angles  on  the  outer  side,  and  one  of  their  faces  on  the  internal  sur- 
face; the  two  first  of  equal  size,  the  other  somewhat  smaller."  Part 
of  the  above  description  is  in  the  words  of  Dr.  Godman,  Irom  his  very  cor- 
rect and  interesting  article  on  the  Shrew  Mole,  (vol.  i.,  p.  82.)  which 
corn^sponds  exactly  with  the  results  of  our  own  investigations  of  the  teeth 
of  this  pnimal,  made  at  various  times,  during  a  period  of  several  years. 

Young. — We  have  found  in  specimens  less  than  a  year  old,  that  the  two 
srnjill  thread-like  teeth  inserted  behind  the  incisors  in  the  upper  jnw  were 
Entirely  wanting,  as  also  the  fourth  lateral  incisor  on  each  side,  leaving 
vacant  spaces  between  them,  and  presenting  the  appearance  ascribed  to 
them  by  Baron  Civu-r  and  by  DnsMARES-r  :  the  last  mentioned  teeth  arc  first 
leveloped,  the  former  appearinir  when  the  animal  is  full  grown  and  all 
the  edentate  spaces  between  the  molars  are  filled  up. 

Body,  thick  and  cvliiidrical  •  neck,  shoit,  so  that  the  head  appears  almost 


:;OMMON  AMEHICAN  SHREW  MOLE.  g.^ 

as  if  attached  directly  to  the  shoulders ;  snout,  naked,  cartilaginous,  and 
very  flexible,  extending  five  lines  beyond  the  incisors ;  the  under  surface 
prqj..cts  a  little  l)ey()nd  the  nostrils,  which  are  oblong  and  open  on  the 
upper  surface  ner.r  each  other;  mouth,  large,  and  when  open  resembling 
sonicwhat  (allhough  in  miniature)  that  of  the  hog;   eyes,  concealed  by 
the  fur,  apparently  covered  by  an  integument,  and  so  minute  that  they 
can  with  great  difficulty  be  found.     The  orifice  in  the  skin  in  which  the 
eye  is  placed  is  not  of  larger  diameter  than  would  admit  a  bristle.     No 
external  ear;  there  is,  however,  a  very  small  circular  aperture  leading  to 
the  ear,  about  ihree  qnartcrs  of  an  inch  behind  the  eye.     The  fore-arms 
are   concealed   by  the   skin   and  the  palms   only  are  visible,   they  are 
broad,  and  might  be  thought  not  unlike  hands;  they  are  thinly  clolhed 
with  hair,    and  bordered  with  stiff  hnirs;  the  fingers  are  united  at  the 
base  of  the  claws;  nails,   large,  sligiifly  curved,  nearly  convex  above, 
and  flattened  on  the  inner  surface ;  hind-feet,  small  and  slender,  naked 
on  the  under  surface,  and   apparently   above,  although  a  close  inspec 
tion  shows  the  upper  surface  to  be  covered  with  fine  short  hairs;  nails, 
small,  a  little  arched,  and  compressed  ;  tail,  short,  round,  appears  naked^ 
but  is  very  sparingly  clolhed  wilh  short  adpressed  hairs.     On  the  inside' 
of   the  thighs,  near  the  tail,  is  a  gland  about  half  an  inch  long,  from 
which  a  disagreeable  musky  odour  issues,  which  makes  the  animal  of- 
fensive  to   delicate  olfactories.     All  our  other  shrew  moles  possess  simi- 
lar  ghmds,  and  we  have  perceived  the  musky  smell  still  remaining  strong 
ui  skins  that  had  been  prepared  and  stuffed  several  weeks. 


Pi 


COLOUR 


Snout  and  palms,  in  the  living  animal,  pinkish  flesh-colour;  chin,  feet, 
rnd  tail,  dull  white ;  bnir  on  the  body,  about  five  lines  in  length,  very  soft, 
smooth,  and  lustrous;  for  three-fourths  of  its  length,  plumbeous;  tips  light- 
brown,  giving  th.>  surface  of  the  hair,  above,  a  dark-brown  colour,  which 
varies  in  difi'erent  lights,  sometimes  exhibiting  black,  silver-gray,  or  pur- 
ple, reflections. 

There  are  many  variations  in  the  colouring  of  different  individuals  of 
this  species,  but  none  of  them  permanent:  we  possess  some  specimens 
which  are  ne;irly  black,  and  others  of  a  light  cream-colour;  we  also  have 
a  specimen,  the;  tail  of  which  is  clothed  wilh  short  hnirs,  with  a  consider- 
able luft  at  the  extremity.  From  these  and  similar  dill'erences  in  various 
other  animnls,  it  is  not  surprising  that  authors  have  described  in  their 
works  many  as  new,  which,  on  being  closely  examined  afterwards 
prove  to  be  mere  accidental  variulies  of  some  vvrcll-knowu  species. 


84 


COMMON  AMERICAN  SHREW  MOLE. 


DIMENSION3. 


Adult  male. 

From  nose  to  root  of  tail 
Tail  -  -  -  - 
Breadth  of  palm 

A  specimen  from  Carolina.- 
From  nose  to  root  of  tail 
Tail      .... 
Breadth  of  palm    - 


het 

Lines 

5 

8 

0 

8 

0 

5 

4 

7 

0 

9 

0 

6 

HABITS. 

Whilst  almost  every  farmer  or  gardener  throughout  the  Northern  and 
Eastern  States  is  well  acquainted  with  this  curious  animal,  as  far  as  the 
mere  observation  of  its  meandering  course  through  his  fields  and  mea- 
dows, his  beds  of  green  peas  or  other  vegetables,  is  concerned,  but  few 
have  arrived  at  proper  conclusions  in  regard  to  the  habits  of  the  Shrew 
Mole ;  and  it  is  generally  caught  and  liilled  whenever  practicable ;  the 
common  idea  being,  that  the  Mole  feeds  on  the  roots  of  tender  plants, 
grasses,  &c.  ;  while  the  fact  that  the  animal  devours  great  quantities  of 
earth-worms,  slugs,  and  grubs,  all  hurtful  to  the  fruit  trees,  to  the  grasses, 
and  the  peas  and  other  vegetables,  seems  to  be  unknown,  or  overlooked. 

In  justice  to  the  farmer  and  gardener,  however,  we  must  say,  that  the 
course  taken  occasionally  by  this  species,  directly  along  a  row  of  tender 
plants,  throwine:  them  out  of  the  earth,  as  it  docs,  or  zig-zag  across  a 
valuable  bed  c^  beautiful  lawn,  is  rather  provoking,  and  we  have  our- 
selves caused  traps  to  be  set  for  moles,  being  greatly  annoyed  by  fheir 
digging  long  galleries  under  the  grass  on  our  sloping  banks,  which 
during  a  heavy  shower  soon  filled  with  water,  and  presently  increased  to 
large  gutters,  or  deep  holes,  requiring  repairs  forthwith.  At  such  times 
also,  a  Mole-track  through  loose  soil  where  there  is  any  descent,  will  be 
found  by  the  gardener,  perchance,  to  have  become  a  miniature  ravine 
some  twenty  or  thirty  yards  in  length,  and  a  few  (anticipated)  bushels  of 
carrots  are  destroyed.  In  neglected  or  sandy  soils,  one  of  these  gutters 
becomes  deep  and  wide  in  a  short  time,  and  we  may  perhaps  not  err  in 
hazarding  the  opinion  that  some  of  the  unsightly  ravines  which  run  al- 
most through  large  estates,  occasionally  might  be  traced  to  no  higher 
origin  than  the  wandering  of  an  unlucky  mole  ! 

We  kept  one  of  this  species  alive  for  some  days,  feeding  it  altoge- 
ther upon  earth-worms,  but  we  soon  found  it  difficult  to  procure  a  sufli' 


COMMON  AMERICAN  SHREW  MOLE. 


85 


cient  supply ;  forty  or  fifty  worms  of  moderate  size  did  not  appear  too 
much  for  its  seemingly  insatiable  appetite.  At  the  expiration  of  four 
days,  another  of  this  species  which  we  had  in  confinement  would  not 
touch  any  vegetable  substances,  although  the  cage  was  filled  with  clods 
covered  with  fine  clover,  pieces  of  sweet  apples,  bread,  &c. 

We  were  much  interested  in  observing,  that  no  matter  how  soiled  its 
coat  might  have  become  in  the  cage,  it  would  resume  its  beauty  and 
glossiness  after  the  mole  had  passed  and  re-passed  through  the  earth  eight 
or  ten  times,  which  it  always  accomplished  in  a  few  minutes.  We  fre- 
quently remarked  with  surprise  the  great  strength  of  this  animal,  which 
enabled  it  to  lift  the  lid  or  top  of  a  box  in  which  it  was  kept,  although  it 
was  large  and  heavy  ;  the  box-top  was  not  however  fastened  down. 
Seating  ourselves  quietly  in  the  room,  after  putting  hack  the  mole  into 
the  box,  the  animal  supposing  itself  no  longer  watched,  very  soon  raised  its 
body  against  the  side  of  the  box,  which  was  partly  filled  with  earth,  and 
presently  its  snout  was  protruded  through  the  small  space  between  the 
box  and  the  cover ;  and  after  a  few  efl^orts  the  creature  got  his  fore- feet 
on  to  the  edge  of  the  box,  raised  itself  over  the  latter,  and  fell  upon  a  table 
on  which  we  had  placed  the  box.  It  immediately  ran  to  the  edge  of  the 
table,  and  thence  tumbled  on  to  the  floor ;  tlas,  however,  did  not  at  all  in- 
connnode  it,  for  it  made  ofi"  to  a  dark  corner  of  the  room  at  once,  and  re- 
mained there  until  again  replaced  in  its  prison. 

When  this  Mole  was  fed  on  earth-worms,  {Lumbricus  terrenus,)  as  we 
have  just  related,  we  heard  the  worms  crushed  in  the  strong  jaws  of  the 
animal,  with  a  noise  somewhat  like  the  grating  of  broken  glass,  which 
was  probably  caused  by  its  strong  teeth  gnashing  on  the  sand  or  grit  con- 
tained in  the  bodies  of  the  worms.  These  were  placed  singly  on  the 
ground  near  the  animal,  which  after  smelling  around  for  a  moment 
turned  about  in  every  direction  with  the  greatest  activity,  until  he  felt  a 
worm,  when  he  seized  it  between  the  outer  surface  of  his  hands  or  fore 
paws,  and  pushed  it  into  his  mouth  with  a  contiimally  repeated  forward 
movement  of  the  paws,  cramming  it  downward  until  all  was  in  his  jaws. 

Small-sized  earth-worms  were  despatched  in  a  very  short  time ;  the 
animal  never  failing  to  begin  with  the  anterior  end  of  the  worm,  and 
apparently  cutting  it  as  he  eat,  into  small  pieces,  until  the  whole  wns 
devoured.  On  the  contrary,  when  the  earth-worm  was  of  a  large  size, 
the  Mole  seemed  to  find  some  difficulty  in  managing  it,  and  munched 
the  worm  sideways,  moving  it  from  one  side  of  its  mouth  to  the  other. 
On  these  occasions  the  gritting  of  its  teeth,  which  wo  have  already 
spoken  of,  can  be  heard  at  the  distance  of  several  feet. 

We  afterwards  put  the  Mole  into  a  large  wire  rat-trap,  and  to  our  sur- 


86 


COMMON  AMERICAN  SHJIEVV  MOLE. 


prise  saw  him  insert  his  fore-paws  or  hands  between  the  wires,  and  force 
them  apart  .suflieicntly  lo  ^ivc  him  room  to  pass  out  tliroiiirh  them  at 
once,  and  this  without  any  great  api)arcnt  elfort.  It  is  this  extraordinary 
muscular  power  in  the  fore-paws  and  arms,  that  enables  the  Shrew  Moles 
to  traverse  the  galleries  tliey  excavate  with  so  much  rapidity,  in  doing- 
which  they  turn  the  backs  of  their  palms  or  hands  toward  each  other 
push  them  tbrward  as  far  as  tiie  end  of  tlieir  snout,  and  then  open  and 
bring  them  round  backward,  in  the  maimer  of  a  person  moving  his  hands 
and  arms  when  s\  imming.  When  running  along  on  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  they  extend  the  tore-legs  as  fitr  forward  as  they  will  reach,  turn- 
ing the  backs  of  the  hands  or  paws  (as  just  mentioned)  towards  each 
other,  and  placing  them  edge-wise,  inst<\id  of  flat  on  the  earth  as  might 
be  supposed,  and  in  this  manner  they  run  briskly  and  without  any 
awkward  movement,  crossing  beaten-roads  or  paved  walks,  and  sometimes 
running  swiftly  twenty  or  thirty  feet  before  they  can  get  into  the  ground. 

The  .Shrew  Mole  varies  somewhat  in  its  habits,  according  to  our  obser-  ■ 
vations  :  for  while  a  solitary  individual  will  occasionally  for  some  weeks 
occupy  and  root  up  a  large  plot  of  grass  or  a  considerable  portion  of  a 
garden,  and  on  his  being  caught  in  a  trap,  the  place  will  remain  free  from 
fresh  Mole-tracks  for  a  long  period,  proving  that  all  the  mischief  was  the 
work  of  a  single  Mole,  at  other  times  we  have  caught  several  out  of  one 
galleiy  on  the  same  day ;  and  while  excavating  a  root-house,  the  lower 
part  of  which  was  rock,  four  of  those  animals  came  during  the  night 
through  one  gallery  and  tumbled  down  into  the  pit,  where,  the  rock  pre- 
venting their  digging  a  way  out,  they  M-ere  found  in  the  morning.  No 
others  ever  came  through  that  gallery  while  the  cllar  was  in  progress, 
and  those  thus  caught  may  probably  have  been  one  family. 

Althou^'h  gonerally  known  to  run  through  the  sr.me  galleries  often,  so 
much  so  that  the  most  common  method  of  capturing  them  is  to  set  a  trap 
anywhere  in  one  of  these  tracks  to  intercept  tliem  when  again  passing 
through  it,  we  have  known  a  trap  to  remain  set  in  a  fresh  track  for  eleven 
days  b(!fore  the  animal  passed  that  way,  when  it  was  caught ;  and  we 
are  of  opinion  that  many  of  their  tracks  are  only  passed  through  once,  as 
this  aiu'mal  is  known  to  travel  from  one  field  or  wood  to  aiioth(T,  and  pro- 
bably the  only  galleries  they  regularly  traverse  are  those  ad.jacent  to  the 
spot  they  have  selected  for  rearing  their  young.  In  relation  to  this  .sub- 
ject. Dr.  GoDMAN  sjiys — 

"It  is  remarkable  how  unwilling  they  are  to  relinquish  a  long  frequent- 
ed burrow:  I  have  frequently  broken  down  or  torn  off  the  snri'aee  of  the 
sanu!  burrow  for  several  days  in  succession,  but  would  always  find  it  re- 
paired at  the  next  visit.     This  was  especially  the  case  with  one  individual 


COMMON  AMEUICA'N  SHREW  MOLE. 


87 


whose  nest  T  discovered,  which  was  always  repaired  within  a  short  time, 
as  olh'ii  as  destroyed.  It  was  an  oval  cavity,  about  five  or  seven  inches 
in  lenjrlh  by  three  in  breadth,  and  was  placed  at  about  eight  inches  from 
the  surface  in  a  stiff  clay.  The  entrance  to  it  sloped  obli(iucly  downwards 
from  the  gallery  alout  two  iuche?  from  the  surface  ;  three  times  I  entire- 
ly exposed  this  cell,  by  cutting  out  the  whole  superincumbent  clay  with  a 
knife,  and  three  times  a  similar  one  was  made  a  little  beyond  the  situa- 
tion of  ihc  Ibrmcr,  the  excavation  having  been  continued  from  its  back 
part.  1  paid  a  visit  to  the  same  spot  two  months  after  capturing  its  occu- 
pant, and  breaking  up  the  cell,  all  the  injuries  were  found  to  be  repaired, 
and  another  excavated  within  a  few  inches  of  the  old  one.  Most  probabl^i 
numerous  individuals,  composing  a  whole  family,  reside  together  in  these 
extensive  galleries.  In  the  winter  they  burrow  closer  to  the  streams 
where  the  ground  is  not  so  deeply  frozen." 

This  species  whilst  beneath  the  earth's  surface  seems  to  search  for 
food  with  the  same  activity  and  untiring  perseverance  that  are  observable 
in  animals  that  seek  for  their  provender  above  ground.  It  works  through 
the  earth  not  only  in  a  straight-forward  direction,  but  loosens  it  to  the 
right  and  left,  beneath  and  above,  so  that  no  worm  or  insect  can  escape 
it.  When  in  contact  with  any  one  of  the  objects  of  which  it  has  been  in 
search,  it  seizes  it  with  remarkable  quickness  both  with  its  fore-feet  and 
its  sharp  teeth,  drawing  itself  immediately  backward  with  its  prize,  upon 
which  it  begins  to  prey  at  once.  The  Shrew^  Mole  passes  through  loose 
soil  with  nearly  the  same  ease  and  speed  that  it  displays  in  running,  or 
"  scnibbling"  along  above  ground.  It  moves  backward  almost  as  rapidly 
as  it  goes  forward.  The  nose  is  often  seen  protruded  above  the  surface 
of  the  ground. 

The  snout  of  this  species,  although  apparently  delicate,  is  most  power- 
fully muscular,  as  well  as  flexible  ;  the  animal  can  turn  it  to  the  right  or 
left,  upward  or  downward,  and  at  times  inserts  it  in  its  mouth,  as  if  for 
the  pur])ose  of  cleansing  it,  and  then  suddenly  withdraws  it  with  a  kind  of 
smack  of  its  lips;  this  habit  we  observed  three  times  in  the  course  of  a  few 
minutes.  The  Shrew  Mole  is  exceedingly  tenacious  of  life  ;  it  cannot 
easily  be  put  to  death,  either  by  heavy  pressure  or  strangling,  and  a  severe 
blow  on  the  head  seems  to  be  the  quickest  mode  of  despatching  it. 

AllhoLigh  this  species,  as  we  have  seen,  feeds  principally  on  worms, 
grubs,  (kc,  Ave  have  the  authority  of  our  friend  Ot.OEx  IIammon-d,  Esq.,  for 
the  following  example  either  of  a  most  singular  perversity  of  taste,  or  of 
habits  hitherto  totally  unknown  as  appertaining  to  animals  of  this  genus, 
a,nd  nii^riting  a  farther  incjuiry.  Whih^  at  his  testate  near  Throg's  Neck, 
on  Long  Island  Sound,  his  son,  who  is  an  intelligent  young  lad.  and  fo'id 


88 


COMMON  AMi:KirAN  .SIIItKVV  MOLE. 


of  Natnr.il  History,  ohsorvcd  in  c()ini)any  vvith  an  old  servant,  of  fhr  family, 
nSlircw  Mole  in  llic  net  of  swallow  iii^',  or  dcvourinir,  a  conimoii  toad — this 
was  accornplislifd  hy  the  Mole,  and  he  was  then  killed,  Ixin;,'  unable  tc 
escape  after  siicli  a  meal,  and  was  taken  to  the  house,  wlien  Mr.  Hammonh 
saw  and  examined  tlie  animal,  with  the  toad  partially  protrudinir  from  its 
throat.  This  gentleman  also  related  to  us  some  time  a^o,  tli,  i  la?  once 
witnessed  an  en;ra;iemeiit  between  two  Moles,  that  happened  to  encounter 
eaeh  other  in  one  of  the  noon-ilat/  excursions  this  species  is  so  much  in 
the  habit  of  making.  The  eond)atants  sidled  up  to  one  another 
lik(>  two  little  pij^s,  and  each  tried  to  root  the  other  over,  in  attempt- 
in;.'  which  their  ell'orts  so  nuieh  resembled  the  manner  of  two  boars 
ti}j;htin^',  that  the  whole  affair  was  supremely  ridiculous  to  the  beholder, 
although  no  doubt,  to  either  of  the  bold  warriors  t\m  consequences 
of  an  overthrow  would  have  been  very  serious  ;  for  the  conqueror 
would  vent  his  rajre  upon  the  fallen  hero,  and  punish  him  severely  with 
his  sharp  teeth.  We  have  no  doubt  these  conllicts  ^'enerally  take  place 
in  tiie  love  season,  and  ere  caused  by  rivalry,  and  that  some  "fair  Mole" 
probably  rewards  the  victor.  When  approached,  the  Moles  attempted  to 
escape,  but  were  both  shot  on  the  spot,  thus  tailing  victims  to  their  own 
])assions  ;  and  if  we  would  read  aright,  :Jfordin«  us  an  instructive  lesson, 
either  :is  individuals,  or  in  a  national  j)oint  of  view. 

The  Shrew  Moles  are  able  to  work  their  way  so  rapidly,  that  in  soil  or 
loamy  soil  it  is  almost  impossible  for  the  most  active  man  to  overtake  and 
turn  them  out  with  a  spade,  unless  he  can  sec  tlie  spot  where  they  arc 
w«)rkiny;  by  the  movement  of  the  earth,  in  which  case  they  can  be  thrown 
out  easily  by  sticking  the  sj)ade  in  iVont  of  them  or  at  one  sid,*  of  their 
gallery,  and  with  a  (piick  movement  tossing  them  on  to  the  surface. 

They  have  been  known  to  make  a  fresh  track  after  rain,  during  one 
night,  several  himdred  yards  in  length  ;  oftentimes  they  proceed  for  a 
considerable  distance  in  nearly  a  straight  or  direct  line,  then  suddenly  be- 
gin lo  excavate  around  and  across  a  small  space  of  not  more  than  a  few 
teet  in  diameter,  until  you  could  hardly  place  your  foot  on  a  spot  within 
this  suliterranean  hibyrinth  without  sinking  through  into  their  track ;  at 
this  time  they  are  most  probably  in  pursuit  of  worms,  or  other  food,  which 
may  be  there  imbedded. 

Altlion<:h  cold  weather  a])pears  to  us  to  put  a  stop  to  the  movements  of 
the  Mole,  wc  do  not  led  by  any  means  certain  that  such  is  the  case;  and 
virv  i)robal)ly  th(>  hardness  of  the  ground  when  frozen,  and  the  depth  at 
which  the  IMolc  is  ihcii  ol)ligcd  to  seek  his  food,  may  be  a  sufficient  reason 
for  our  seeing  no  traces  of  this  busy  creature's  movements  during  cold 
V  inter  wealhcr.     We  have,  however,  often  ))erceived  their  tracks  after  o 


COMMON   AMKIIICAN  SHHIIVV  MOI.K. 


89 


dayoruv,,.,!  w.mm.  w.-aflu-r  in  Ja.umry,  a.i.l  have  repeatedly  ob^rrv,,) 
.hnnahom  .Inrinj,  a  thaw,  after  ti.e  first  autumnal  frosts  had  occurred, 
/n  Carolina  there  are  not  many  we.-ks  in  a  winter  in  wlm-h  wo  are  not 
able  to  (ind  here  a.,d  then,  trae.-s  of  the  aetivitv  of  the  .Mole.  We  admit 
hovvever,  that  even  in  this  comparatively  mil.l  climate,  they  appear  to 
l)e  lar  less  active  in  winter  thmi  at  other  seasons. 

From  fl..  forejToin,'  facts  we  are  incli.u-d  to  think  the  Mole  docs  not 
h.-come  torpul  at  any  lim.-;  and  in  corrol.oration  of  this  idea,  we  find 
Ihi.t  the  amn.a!  is  not  at  any  season  found  in  hi^h  Northern  latitudes. 
Dr.  KrcARDHON  thinks  "the  absence  of  the  Shrew  Mole  from  these 
••'>""<nes  IS  ou  in,,  to  the  fact  that  the  earth-worm  on  whi.-h  the  Scalops 
Idu.  the  co.nn.on  Mole.  ,,rincipallv  feeds,  is  unknown  in  the  Hudson's  Bay 
countries."  ^ 

Th(.  idea  couunonly  entertaine.l  by  uninform.'.l  persons,  that  M<,le8 
have  no  eyes,  ,s  an  .Mror;  althouj,d.  our  own  experience  confirms  the 
opm.on  of  others,  that  they  appear  to  possess  the  power  of  seeing  only  in 
a  very  Inn.ted  d.-j^re...  We  must  not  forj^^ct,  however,  that  a  wise  Provi- 
dence 1ms  adapted  their  oi-ans  of  vision  to  the  subterraneou-  life  they 
load.  Shut  out  from  th..  lij^ht  „f  the  sun  by  a  law  of  nature  re„ui- 
rm^Mhem  to  s.-arch  lor  fbo,l  beneath  the  earth's  surface,  the.se  animaks 
woM.d  (n.d  a  laroe  pair  of  ey.;s  one  of  th,-  f,.reatcst  of  evils,  inasmuch  a.s 
thev  wo.dd  be  eonstnntiy  liable  to  be  filled  with  sand;  thus  causing  in- 
(iammalion,  blindness,  and  eventually  death. 

It  is  not,  however,  beyond  the  reach  of  possibility,  nor  contrary  t.,  the 
economy  of  ^^^^xxv,  to  suppose  that  during  the  night,  when  this  speci^^s  is 
seen  occas.onal'y  above  ground,  or  when  engaged  in  running  or  fighting 
or  lor  purposes  we  have  m.t  yet  .liscovered,  this  animal  may  have  the  power 
of  expandmg  its  minute  orbs,  and  drawing  back  the  hair  that  entirely  con- 
ceals Its  eyes.  This,  however,  is  a  mere  conjecture,  which  we  have  thrown 
out  for  the  consideration  of  those  who  are  fond  of  investigating  Nature 
in  her  minutest  operations. 

The  inquiry  has  often  b,en  mad,^  if  the  Shrew  Mole  does  not  feed  up- 
on the  grains  or  roots  of  the  corn,  peas,  potatoes,  &c.,  planted  in  rows  or 
in  lulls,  why  IS  it  that  this  pe.st  so  ingeniously  and  so  mischievously  follows 
tlu'  rows,  and  as  ..Ifeetnaily  destroys  the  young  platits  as  if  it  had  con- 
sumed them?  We  answer,  it  is  not  the  spirit  of  mischief  by  which  the 
Mo!.,  is  aetuifted  ;  it  is  the  law  of  s.-iUpreservation.  In  the'rows  where 
(hese  seeds  have  been  sown,  or  these  v.'getables  planted,  the  ground  has 
b.'en  manured;  this.  a.,d  the  consequent  moisture  around  the  roots  of  the 
plants,  attracts  wor.ns  .n<l  other  insects  that  are  invariably  found  in  rich 
moist  earth.     To   the   accusations   made   against   the   Shrew    Mole  as  ■» 


LI 


90 


COMMON  AMIOHICAN  SHKEVV  MOLE. 


destroyer  of  potatoes,  iind  other  vop;etables,  he  mij^ht  often  with  great 
fruth  plead  an  alil)i.     Leconti/s  pine  mouse,  {Arvicoln  pitictonim,)  is  usu- 
ally  the  author  of  the  niischiei;  whilst  all  the  b'ame  is  thrown  upon  the 
innocent  Shrew  Mole.     We  are,  moreover,  incli.^ed  to  think  that  whilst 
the  earth-worm  is  the  general,  it  is  by  no  means  the  only  food  of  the 
latter,  and  we  h.-d  an  opportunity  of  discovering  to  our  cost,  that  when 
in  captivity,  this  species   relishes  other  tare.     We  preserved  one  in  a 
cage  in  Carolina,  during  a  winter,  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  on 
what  kind  of  food  it  was  sustained,  and  whether  it  became  dormant.     It 
at  no  time  touched  grains  or  vegetables ;  the  lower  part  of  the  cage  was 
filled  with  a  loot  of  moist  earth,  in  which  we  occasionally  placed  a  pint  of 
earth-worms.     It  devoured  pieces  of  beef,  and  lor  a  week  was  engaged  in 
demolishing  a  dead  pigeon.     Until  the  middle  of  .lanuary  we  found  it 
every  day  actively  running  through  the  earth  in  search  of  worms.     Sud- 
denly, however,  it  seemed  to  have  gone  to  winter  quarters,  as  we  could  see 
no  more  traces  of  its  customary  burrowing.     We  now  carefully  searched 
for  it  in  the  box,  to  ascertain  its  appearance  in  a  dormant  state.     But  the 
little  creature  had  forced  itself  through  the  wooden  bars,  and  was  gone. 
We  examined  every  part  of  the   room  without  success,  and  finally  sup- 
posed it  had  escaped  through  the  (l')or.     The  cage  i^f  the  Mole  had  been 
set  on  a  box,  ful'  of  earth,  in  which  the  chrysolides  of  some  sixty  or 
seventy  species  of  rare  butterflies,  moths,  and  sphinges,  had  been  carefu'lv 
deposited.     In  this  box  we  a  few  days  afterwards  heard  a  noise,  and  on 
looking,  discovered  our  little  fugitive.     On  searching  for  our  choice  insects 
we  found  not  one  left ;  they  had  all  been  devoured  by  the  Shrew  Mole. 
This  greatly  disappointed  us,  and  put  an  end  to  all  our  hopes  of  read- 
ing the  follow':ig  spring  a  better  lesson  on  entomology  than  ever  could 
have  been  taught  us — either  by  Fadriciis,  Spexck,  or  Kirby. 

We  had  an  opportunity  on  two  different  occasions  of  examining  the 
nests  and  young  of  the  Shrew  Mole.  The  nests  were  about  eight  inches 
below  the  surface,  the  excavation  was  rather  large  and  contained  a 
quantity  of  oak  leaves  on  the  outer  surface,  lined  with  soft  dried  leaves  oi 
the  crab-grass,  {Digitaria  saniruinalis.)  There  were  galleries  leading  to 
this  nest,  in  two  or  three  directions.  The  young  numbered  in  one  case, 
five,  and  in  another,  nine. 

Our  k-nd  friend,  J.  S.  Haines,  Esq,  of  Germantown,  near  Philadelphia, 
informed  us  that  he  once  kept  Severn  I  Shrew  Moles  in  confinement  lor 
the  purpose  of  investigating  their  b:ibits,  and  that  having  been  neglected 
for  a  few  days,  the  strongest  of  them  killed  and  ate  up  the  others ;  they 
also  devoured  raw  meat,  especially  beef,  with  grer  <-  avidity. 


COMMON  AMKRICAN  SHREW  MOLE. 


OEOGRAPnrCAL    DIflTRIBUTrON. 


91 


The  Shrrvv  Molo  is  fou.ul  inl.al.ifin-  various  parts  of  the  country  from 
Canada  to  Ivcntueky,  in  consi,l,.ral,lc  ninnbers,  and  is  abundant  in  Care 
Una,  Geor^ri-v,  Louisiana  and  Florida.  It  is,  accordin^^  to  U.cardson,  un- 
known  in  Labrador,  the  Hudson's  Hay  Territories,  and  probably  N..r.h  of 
LatiUuIe  50«.  Wn  did  not  see  any  of  them  in  our  trip  up  the  Missouri 
river,  an.l  there  are  none  to  be  found  on  the  dry  prairies  of  the  regions 
immediately  east  of  the  great  Rocky  Mountain  chain.  The  figures  in  our 
plate  were  Jiawn  from  specimens  procured  near  the  City  of  New- York. 
We  mention  this  locality  because  the  colours  differ  a  little  from  others 
that  we  have  seen,  and  that  have  been  described. 

GENERAL    REMARKS. 

In  restoring  to  this  animal  tlie  specific  name  of  its  first  describer,  we 
have  adhered  to  a  rule,  from  which,  to  prevent  t'.ie  repetition  of  synonymes 
we  should  never  depart  unless  under  very  peculiar  circumstances.  The 
name  "  Afjuatmi.'^r  certainly  does  not  apply  to  ib.  habits  of  this  species 
as  although  it  is  fond  of  the  vicinity  )f  moist  ground  where  the  earth- 
worm is  most  abundant,  yet  it  is  nowise  aquatic.  The  name  of  Desmarest 
howrser,  viz.,  "Canadensis,"  i,  equally  objectionable,  as  it  is  far  more' 
common  in  the  Southern  portion  of  the  United  States  than  in  Canada. 

Some  differences  of  opinion  are  observable  in  the  works  of  authors  in 
regard  to  the  number  of  teeth  which  characterize  this  species. 

Although  the  genus  was,  until  recently,  composed  of  but  a  single  ac- 
knowledged spocies  {Scalops  Canadensis  oi'DESM.),  its  systematic  arran-^e. 
ment  has  caused  great  perplexity  among  Naturalists.  Linn.eus  placed  it 
among  the  Shrews  (Sorex),  and  Pennant  among  the  Moles  (Talpa)  Barou 
Cuv.ER  finally  establisht-d  for  it  a  new  genus  (Scalops),  in  which  it  now 
remains.  The  specimen,  however,  which  he  made  the  type  of  the  genus 
contained  but  thirty  teeth.  The  upper  jaw  had  but  three  lateral  incisors 
or  false-molars  on  each  side  ;  leaving  considerable  intermediate  spaces  be- 
tween  the  inciso^.  and  true  molars.  In  this  dental  arrangement  he  was 
followed  by  Desmarest,  Dr.  Harlan,  Griffith,  and  nearly  all  the  Natural- 
ists of  that  period.  Subsequently,  however,  Frederick  Cuv.er  gave  a 
correct  description  of  the  teeth,  which  he  found  nmnun.c-.l  to  thirty-six. 
Dr.  Harlan  Imdmg  a  skeleton  from  the  vicinity  of  Pl.ihuklphia,  which  in 
Its  dental  arrangement  corresponded  generally  with  the  characters  given 
by  tRED.  Clv.er,  considered  it  a  new  species,  and  described  it  under  the 
name  of  Sc.  Penmyh-anica  (sec  Fauna  Amevicaau,  p.  33). 


..jfi 


'  m 


92 


COMMON  AMERICAN  SHREW  MOLE. 


Dr.  RicirARDsoN  described  a  specimen  which  was  obtained  on  the  Co- 
lumbia  river  (F.  B.  A.,  p.  9),  which  contained  forty-four  teeth,  very 
differently  arranged.  This  animal  he  referred  to  our  common  Shrew 
Mole,  supposing  that  the  difference  in  the  dentition,  as  observed  by  differ- 
ent  authors,  was  owing  to  tlieir  having  examin.  d  and  described  speci- 
mens of  different  ages. 

In  1810,  Professor  Emmons  (Report  on  the  Quadrupeds  of  Massachusetts) 
characterizes  the  genus  as  having  44  teeth.  In  1842,  Dr.  Dekay  (Nat. 
History  of  the  St.ite  of  New- York,  p.  15)  has  very  erroneously  given  as  a 
character,  its  having  from  34  to  46  teeth,  and  states  that  he  had  once  seen 
the  skull  of  one  of  this  species  containing  44  teeth. 

In  an  article  in  the  Boston  Journal  (vol.  iv.,  No.  i.,  p.  26,  1842),  Ave 
endeavoured  to  explain  and  correct  the  contradictory  views  of  former 
authors,  and  we  feel  confident  we  have  it  in  our  power  to  account  lor  the 
skull  seen  by  Dr.  Dekav  containing  forty-four  teeth. 

The  specimens  examined  by  Baron  Ciivier,  DesmaresT  and  Dr.  Harlan, 
each  containing  but  30  teeth,  were  evidently  young  animals,  with  their 
dentition  incomplete.  One  half  of  the  specimens  now  lying  before  us 
present  the  same  deficiency  in  the  number  of  teeth  ;  they  also  exhibit  the 
edentate  spaces  between  the  incisors  and  grinders  remarked  by  those  au- 
thors. We  have,  in  deciding  this  point,  compared  more  than  fifty  speci- 
mens together.  Those  on  the  other  hand  that  were  examined  by  F.  Cu- 
vier  and  Dr.  Godman,  and  the  skeleton  of  Dr.  Harlan's  Scalops  Pennsyl- 
vanicn,  containing  36  teeth,  were  adults  of  the  same  species.  Dr.  Richard- 
son's specimen  was  a  new  species  {Scalops  TownscniHi),  having  44  teeth, 
(see  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc,  Philadelphia,  vol.  viii.,  p.  58).  With  re- 
gard to  the  skull  seen  by  Dr.  Dekay,  we  have  no  doubt  of  its  having  be- 
longed to  Scalops  Brewerii  (see  Bost.  Journ.  Nat,  Hist.,  vol.  iv.,  p.  32), 
which  has  44  teeth,  and  is  not  uncommon  in  the  State  of  New- York,  as 
we  obtained  four  specimens  from  our  friend,  the  late  Dr.  Wright,  who 
procured  them  in  the  vicinity  of  Troy. 


9a 


t^EPUS    AMERICANUS.-EuxLEBEN. 

NosTHERN  Hare. 

PLATE  XII.— Winter  Pelage. 

L.  hyen.e  albus ;  pilis  tricoloribus,  apice  albis,  ad  radices  coeruleis 
medio  fulvis;  aestate,  supra  rufo-fuscus,  infra  albus,  auribus  capite  paullo 
brevionbus  ;  L.  Sylvatica  paullo  robustior.     L.  Glacialis  minor. 

CHARACTERS. 

Size,  larger  than  the  gray  rabbit  {Lepus  Sylvaticus),  less  than  the  Polm 
hare;  (L.  Glacialis).  Colour  in  summer,  reddish-brown  above,  white  be. 
neatk  ■  m  wmter,  ichife ;  roots  of  the  hairs,  blue;  nearer  the  surface  faion^ 
colour,  and  the  tips,  white ;  cars,  a  little  shorter  than  the  head. 

SyNONYMES. 

LiEVRE  (Quenton  Malisia),  Sngard  Thcodat,  Canada,  p.  747.  1636 
Swedish  Hake.  Kalm's  Travels  in  North  America,  vol,  ii.,  p.  4.'}.   1749 
American  Hare,  Philos.  Trans.,  London,  vol.  L\ii.,  pp.  i],  370.  1772  ' 
Lepus  Amkhicam-.s,  p:rxk!ben,  Syst.  regni  Animalis,  p.  330.   1777. 
"      Nanus,  Schrcber,  vol.  ii.,  p.  881,  pi.  234,  fig. 

HuDsoNius,  Pallas,  Glires,  pp.  l,  30. 
VAnviNo  IIari:,  Pennant,  Arct.  Zool.,  vol.  i.,  p.  95. 
Lki'u.s  \-   .MNiANis,  Harlan,  Fauna,  p.  19G.   1825. 

VAu.AniMs,  var.  Godman,  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  164. 
Ameiuoan- Vahvino  Hake,  Doughty,  Cabinet  Nat.  Hist.,  vol  i     n   217    nl    iq 
Autumn  pelage.  '   "  ^'        '  ^     '^' 

The  NoiiTHKHN-  Hare,  Audubon,  Ornithological  Biog.,  vol.  ii ,  „  469     Biida  of 
America,  pi.  181  (in  ih."  talons  of  (he  Golden  Eagle).  Winter  pelade 

Lei'US  Amkuicam-s,  Richardson,  Faima  Boreali  A./p   -m;  ^' 

"       VnuHNiANus.  Bach,  Acad.  Nat.  Sciences,  Philad'elpbia,  vol  vii    n  301 
"       A.MERicAM'8,  Bach,  lb.,  p.  403,  and  lb.,  vol.  viii.,  p   76  " 

••       AMEracANis,  Dekay,  Nat.  Hist,  gt.ute  of  New- York,  p.  95,  pi.  26. 

DESCRIPTrOX. 

Incisors,  pure  white,  shorter  and  smaller  than  in  /..  Glacialis  ;  upper  one.s 
moderately  grooved ;  the  two  post^-rior  upper  inci.sors  very  sumli.     The 


94 


NORTHERN  HARE. 


margins  of  the  orbits  project  considerably,  having  a  distinct  depressior^ 
in  the  frontal  bone  ;  this  is  more  conspicuous  in  the  old  than  in  the  younger 
animals.  Head  rather  short ;  nose  blunt,  eyes  large  and  prominent ;  ears 
placed  far  back,  and  near  each  other;  whiskers,  long  and  numerous: 
body,  elongated,  thickly  clothed  with  long  loose  hair,  vvUh  a  ioft  downy 
fur  beneath ;  legs,  long ;  hind-legs,  nearly  twice  the  length  of  the  fore- 
legs; feet,  thickly  clothed  with  hair,  completely  concealing  the  nails, 
which  are  long,  thin,  very  sharp,  and  slightly  arched.  So  thickly  are  the 
soles  covered  with  hair,  that  an  impression  by  the  nails  is  not  generally 
visible  in  their  tracks  made  while  passing  over  the  snow,  unless  when 
running  very  fast.  Tail,  very  short,  covered  with  fur,  but  not  very 
bushy.  The  form  of  this  species  is  on  the  whole  not  very  elegant ;  its 
long  hind  legs,  although  remarkably  well  adapted  for  rapid  locomotion, 
and  its  diminutive  tail,  would  lead  the  spectator  at  first  sight  to  pro- 
nounce it  an  awkward  animal ;  which  is,  nevertheless,  far  from  being  the 
fact.  Its  fur  never  lies  smooth  and  compact,  either  in  winter  or  summer 
as  does  that  of  many  other  species,  but  seems  to  hang  loosel ,  on  its  back 
and  sides,  giving  it  a  somewhat  shaggy  appearance.  The  hair  on  the 
body  is  in  summer  about  an  inch  and  a  half  long,  and  in  winter  a  little 


longer 


COLOUR. 


In  summer,  the  whole  of  the  upper  surface  is  reddish-brown,  formed  by 
hairs  that  are  at  their  roots  and  for  two-thirds  of  their  length  of  a  blue- 
ish  ash  colour,  then  reddish-yellow,  succeeded  by  a  narrow  line  of  dark- 
brown,  the  part  next  the  tips  or  points,  reddish-brown,  but  nearly  all 
the  hairs  tipped  wilh  black — this  colour  predominating  toward  the 
rump.  Whiskers,  mostly  black,  a  few  white,  the  longest  reaching  be- 
yond the  head ;  ears,  brown,  with  a  narrow  black  border  on  the  outer 
margin,  and  a  slight  fringe  of  white  hairs  on  the  iimer.  In  some  speci- 
mens there  is  a  fawn,  and  in  others  a  light-coloured,  edge  around  the  eyes. 
and  a  few  white  hairs  on  the  forehead.  The  pupil  of  the  eye  is  dark,  the 
iris  lig4it  silvery-yellow  ;  point  of  nose,  chin,  and  under  the  throat,  white  ; 
neck,  yellowish-brown.  Inner  surface  of  legs,  and  under  surface  of  body, 
white ;  between  the  hind-legs,  to  the  insertion  of  the  tail,  white ;  upper 
surface  of  the  tail,  brown,  under  surface  Avhite.  The  summer  dress  of  tliis 
species  is  assumed  in  April,  and  remains  without  much  change  till  about 
the  beginning  of  November  in  the  latitude  of  Quebec,  and  till  the  middle  of 
the  same  month  in  the  State  of  New- York  and  the  western  parts  of  Penn- 
sylvania ;  after  which  season  the  animal  gains  its  winter  pelage.  During 
winter,  in  high  Norflern  latitudes,  it  becomes  nearly  pure  white  with  the 


NORTHERN  HARE. 


95 


exception  of  the  black  edge  on  the  outer  borders  of  the  ears      In  th    .  r 
tu  e    f  Alban,.  New-York,  it  has  a,wa,s  .  tinge  of  redZ-br    v  ^„^: ^ 
con.p.cuou«  jn  son.e  specimens  than  in  others,  giving  it  a  wavy  apper 

ulTT  ;;  ''"Z  '''  ''''"'''  ''  ^^^""^"^''  orwhenLfur  isin'tS  :  ; 
a  itated  In  the  winter  season  .he  hair  is  plumbeous  at  base,  then  red 
cl.sh  and  xs  broadly  tipped  with  white.  The  parts  of  the  body  v  h Ih  at 
the  last  to  assume  the  white  change,  are  the  forehead  and  shoulde  we 
h-e  two  wmte.--killed  specimens  before  us  that  have  the  forehead  aid 
a  patch  on  the  shoulders,  brown.     On  the  under  surface,  th      ur  in  mo" 

VVe  possess  a  specimen  of  the  young,  about  half  grown    which  in  its 
general  aspect  resembles  the  adult;  the  colour  of  the  back  7 
■•^  shade  darker,  and  the  under  surface  an  ashy  white      The ^1X7'  -^ 

The  tail  is  very  shortZk  r  "       '°  '''  ""'^''^  «^  ^^«  «- 

young  become  ^v^::).:!!:  ^  ^^« 

w  nter  colouring  a  l!iH«  i„f      •     .-  ^      '    ^^  'issume  their 


\: 


DIMENStONS. 

The  ,i,_e  a,rf  weigh,  of  ,he  Nonhern  hare  we  have  found  ,„  vary  verv 

.he  a.,i,  r:„:ro:re:zf;,:i:r  'tr:r'  "t  " 

our  collee,io„.  .hot  ,«„!,:,  T      ""'  """'' '  "''  "  ''°'«"  ""^  '" 


I 


96 


NORTHERN  HARE. 


DIMENSIONS. 

From  point  of  nose  to  root  of  tail 

Tal   (vertebroe)  .        -        .        - 

Do.  to  end  of  hair       .... 

From  heel  to  end  of  middlf  claw 

Height  of  ear    ------- 

Another  specimen  of  moderate  size. 

From  point  of  nose  to  root  of  tail 

Tail  (vertebra?)  -..--. 

Do.  to  end  of  hair 

From  heel  to  end  of  middle  claw        -        -        . 

Height  of  ear     -------  3i       do. 

Weight : — This  species  in  the  beginning  of  winter  varies  from  three  tc 
tiix  and  a  half  pounds,  but  we  consider  5j  pounds  to  be  the  average  weight 
of  a  full-grown  animal  in  good  condition. 


]0i 

incfapiJ 

U 

do. 

2i 

do. 

H 

dc. 

H 

do. 

10 

do. 

U 

do. 

2J 

do. 

5] 

do 

HABITS. 


Our  difi'crent  species  of  Hares,  and  more  especially  the  present  one  and 
the  little  gray  rabbit,  have  been  so  much  mixed  up  in  the  accounts  ol 
authors,  tliat  great  confusion  exists  in  regard  to  their  habits,  and  their 
specific  identity'.  The  assertion  of  Warden,  that  the  American  Hare  re- 
treats into  hollow  trees  when  pursued,  applies  to  the  gray  rabbit,  for 
which  it  was  no  doubt  intended,  but  not  to  the  Northern  Hare.  We 
are  not  aware  that  the  latter  ever  takes  shelter  either  in  a  hole  in  the 
earth,  or  in  a  hollow  tree.  We  have  seen  it  chased  by  hounds  for  whole 
days,  and  lave  witnessed  the  repetition  of  these  hunts  for  several  succes- 
sive wintc-s,  without  ever  knowing  it  to  seek  concealment  or  security  in 
such  placts.  It  depends  on  its  long  legs,  and  on  the  ihickness  of  the 
woods,  to  aid  it  in  evading  the  pursuit  of  its  enemies.  When  hunted,  it 
winds  and  doubles  among  thick  clusters  of  young  pines  and  scrub-oaks, 
or  leads  ihi'  dogs  through  entangled  patches  of  hemlock  and  spruce  fir, 
until  it  sometimes  wearies  out  its  pursuers;  and  unless  the  hunter  should 
api)ear.  and  stop  its  career  with  the  gun,  it  is  almost  certain  to  escape. 

In  deep  snows,  the  animal  is  so  light,  and  is  so  well  supported  by  its 
broad  furrv-f(>rt.  that  it  |)asses  over  the  surface  making  only  a  faint 
impression,  whilst  the  lioimds  ])limge  dee])  into  the  snow  at  every 
bound,  and  soon  give  up  the  liopolcss  i)iirsuit.  It  avoids  not  only  open 
grounds,  hi.t  even  open  woods,  and  conlines  itscll'  to  the  densest  and 
most   impi.i',etial)le  loresls.     Although  it  wandns  by  nighl  in  many  direc- 


NORTHERN  IIAUE. 


97 


-n.s  m  search  of  its  appropriate  food,  we  have  scarcely  ever  seen  its 
tntcks  .„  the  open  fields;   it  seems  cautiously  to  avoid  the  cabbie  a !^ 
-n,.  nelds  or  the  fanner,  and  seldom  eve.f  in  the  most  r,  el  p^ 
makes  an  encroaclunent  on  his  cultivated  grounds 
The  food  of  this  species  in  summer  consists  of  various  kinds  of  juicy 

.  1)^. ,  and  t  ese  Hares  seem  to  be  particularly  fond  of  the  young  twi^s 
ol  the  wdd  allspice  (/...-„.,  ten.oin),  but  in  winter,  when  the  earth  1 
covered  wU  snow,  they  gain  a  precarious  subsistenc;  from  the  buds  and 
ba.k  of  such  trees  as  are  suited  to  their  taste.  Sometimes  they  scratch 
up  to  snow  to  feed  on  the  leaves  and  berries  of  the  various  spec  11  ' 
/  ,rolu,  lound  m  the  Northern  States.  The  bark  of  the  willow  b  r  h  .n  1 
poplar^an    t  e  buds  of  young  pines,  are  sought  after  by  them  wi^  avt 

York  who  T"  '"'T^'"  ^'-^^^-^'--  P-t  of  the  State  of  New- 

Yo.k,  who  were  desirous  of  shooting  these  animals  by  moonlight    watch 
m.  near  Amencan  black-poplar  trees  iPopula.  HuLnica),  w  IcHhe; 
nad  cu   down   or  the  purpose  of  attracting  then,  to  feed  on  thO  buds  and 
tender  tw,gs,  „.  which  they  were  o'-ten  successful.     Some  of   hes.  iCs 
winch  we  had  „.  a  don.esticated  sta.e,  were  fed  on  cabbage  leaveTtm    •" 
parsnips,  potatoes  and  sweet  appl...     During  one  very  cold  wi. ^4      Z  i 
th    e  could  not  be   conveniently  obtained,  they  were  frequently    ^ppj 
-th  cover-  ay,  to   which,  when  more  agreeable  food  las  Ltge. 
-lu-m,  they  d.d  not  evince  any  aversion;  from  time  to  time  a"so    outJ 
branches  ot  willow,  poplar  or  apple  trees,  were  thrown  il    hLi  t 
closure,  the  bark  of  which  seemed  to  he  greatly  relished  by  them. 

I  lie  Northern  Hare,  like  most  others  of  the  genus  se-i«  ;t«  f    ^      , 
.y  night  or  in  the  early  part  of  the  evening.     T^Zl2t:j^:Z 
c  usjvelj.  confined  during  autumn  and  winter,  than  in  spring  and  7ZZ 
In  the  lat  er  seasons,  especially  in  spring,  these  animals  are  frlentlv 
observed  in  (ho    norning,  and  as  the  sun  is  declining   in  th!   '"  ^ 

c^.^.y  l.oceeding  along  some  solitary  by-patiroriS  l^.  '"^Z 
three  may  ofien  be  seen  associa((>d  together  anne^,rin.r  fnli    r     .- 

.".•.km,  „  ,.,..e  «>  loud  ,..,.,  i.  ca„  be  heard  at  »mel.„,4  h      S 
H.nv  .v,,„l,  .,,,„  ,1,0  ,  ick,.,,  ,l„,v  si,  „,„,  ears  erec,,  seemi ^  h-    ' 

M,c  n,„.,l,  ,,  cmmon  ,„  ,m,s,  hara,  a„d  rabl.i,,.     W,.  have  „    M    ,      I 


■f 


98 


NORTHERN  HARE. 


this  Hare  retires  to  its  form  at  early  dawn,  or  shelter:;  itself  under  tht 
thick  foliage  of  fallen  tree  tops,  particularly  those  of  the  pine  and 
hemlock.  It  occasionally  retires  to  the  same  cover  for  a  number  of 
nights  in  succession,  but  this  habit  is  by  no  means  common;  and  the 
sportsman  who  expects  on  some  succeeding  day  to  find  this  animal  in 
the  place  from  which  it  was  once  started,  is  likely  to  be  disappointed ; 
although  we  are  not  aware,  that  any  other  of  our  species  of  hare  are  so 
attached  to  particular  and  beaten  paths  tb"  .!■  the  «oous,  as  the  one 
now  under  consideration.  It  nightly  pursue  -I  i  aths,  not  only  during 
the  deep  snows  of  winter,  but  ibr  a  period  ot  •  jral  years,  if  not  killed 
or  taken,  wandering  through  them  even  during  sunnner.  We  have  seen 
a  dozen  caught  at  one  spot  in  snares  composed  of  horse-hair  or  brass 
wire,  in  the  course  of  a  winter,  and  when  the  snow  had  disappeared 
and  the  spring  was  advanced,  others  were  still  captured  in  the  same 
way,  and  in  the  same  paths. 

The  period  of  gestation  in  this  species  is  believed  to  be,  (al- 
though we  cannot  .speak  with  positive  certainty,)  about  six  weeks. 
Two  females  which  we  domesticated,  and  kept  in  a  warren,  prodiiced 
yoinig,  one  on  the  tenth  and  the  other  on  the  fifteenth  of  May;  one  had 
four,  and  the  other  six  leverets,  which  were  deposited  on  a  nest  of  straw 
the  inside  of  which  was  lined  with  a  considerable  quantity  of  hair  plucked 
iVom  their  bot'  They   succeeded    in   rearing    all    their   young    but 

one,  which  Avas  killed  by  the  male  of  a  common  Europeiui  ral>l)it. 
They  were  not  again  gravid  during  that  season.  Ill  health,  arid  more 
important  studies,  reciuired  us  <o  be  absent  ibr  six  months,  and  when 
we  returned,  all  our  j)cts  had  escai)ed  to  the  w^oods,  thereibrc  we  could 
not  satisfactorily  finish  the  observations  on  their  habits  in  confinement, 
which  had  interested  and  amused  us  in  many  a  leisure  hour. 

We,  however,  think  it  probable  that  the  females  in  their  wild  state  may 
protiuce  young  twice  during  the  season.  Tliosc  referred  to  above  were 
much  harassed  by  other  species  which  were  confined  in  the  same  war- 
ren, and  might  therefore  have  been  less  prolific  than  if  they  had  enjoyed 
their  liberty  undisturbed,  amid  the  recesses  of  their  native  woods.  We 
have  frequently  observed  the  young  of  the  Northern  Hare  in  May,  and 
again  in  July.  The.se  last  must  have  been  either  from  a  second  litter,  or 
the  produce  of  a  young  f(>male  of  the  previous  year.  The  young,  at  birth, 
were  able  to  see.  They  were  covered  with  short  hair,  and  appeared 
somewhat  darker  in  colour  than  the  adults,  at  that  season.  'I'hey  left  their 
nest  in  ten  or  twelve  days,  and  from  that  time  seemed  to  provide  for 
themselves,  and  to  dtM-ivc  little  sustenance  or  protection  from  their  mo- 
thers.    The  old  males  at  this  period  seemed  to  be  animated  with  renewed 


~T? 


NORTHERN  HARE. 


99 


!  9 


cou  age  they  had  previously  suffered  themselves  to  be  chased  and  wor 
n.  by  the  co.nn.ou  English  rabbit,  and  even  retreated  from  the  at- 
.acKs  of  the  gray  rabbit;  but  they  now  stood  their  ground,  and  engaged 
me.-co  CO.  ats  wi.h  ,he  other  prisoners  eonlined  with  them,  andl^ne- 
..U  V  a,ne  od  victonous.  They  stamped  wi,h  their  feet,  used  their  teeth 
and  claws  to  a  fearful  purpose,  and  in  the  light  tore  o.F  patches  of  In 
and  mutilated  the  ears  of  their  former  persecutors,  till  tl  e!  were  L  tn 
undisturbed  possession  of  the  premises  !  " 

The  males  did  not  evince  the  vicious  propensity  to  destroy  their  young 
vhich  IS  observed  in  the  domesticated  English  rabbit ;  on  the  con'ra"v 
t'oZo  ,!r""''^'  '''  '-'''^  ''^''  '''^  ^•^■"^•>''  -h-  ^hey  were  b^a' 

sit^InslnnT  !'""  "7%''" '•'"-"  ™-  ^°  P-^er  dry  and  elevated 

0.1  thu,  feet,  and  after  having  been  compelled  to  pass  through  them 
y  are  tor  hours  employed  in  rubbing  and  drying  their  paws.  In  X 
,    however    when    such   places    are    liardened  by  the   frost,  th.y  not 

n ly  have  paths  through  them  in  every  direction,  but  occasio.ially  s  e! 

al  en  tree-top  as  a     uhng  or  resting  place,  in  the  centre  of  a' wamp 

ttns  of  wb  ;'  '•'■  '"■''''^'""^■■^'•'^'  (^-'•- /--/«/",)  considerable  por- 

the  «  bin      "'":  "■;"''  """""'  ■•'  f'""'^'^^  — -^^     I'^  -hat  are  c.^led 

procuu  tan  bark,  tins  speces  ,s  sometimes  so  abundant  that  twenty  or 
thu-ty  ot  then  may  be  started  in  a  day's  walk  ^ 

r.u.s,  Its   (lesi.  ,s  hard,  dry,  almost  juiceless,  possessing  none  of  the 

^n-our  of  the  English  hare,  and  much  inferior  to  that  of  our  grav  n  bb^ 

Lpjcures,  however,  who  often  regard  as  dainties  dishes  that  a^;  ^^^  ' 

and  who,  by  the  skilful  application  of  the  culinary  art  possess  mean    ot' 

::;:' ■;:;  .v:::r^^""'^ ''-'  -- "  ^--^-^  ^-^-^  --  ^^i^ 

The  Northern  Hare,  as  is  proverbially  the  case  with  all  the  species     ■ 

o    Hu,  lo,est,  by  eagles,  by  hawks,  and  by  owls.     In  the  northern  parts 
^    Mame.  m  Canada,  and  i„  the  countries  lar.her  north,  their  most  thrm 
eaenues  are  the  Canada  L  nx,  (I,,,.,.  Can.nlrnsis,  the   ier  f).,," 

hnjand  .Mates,  however,  and  m  New- York,  the  red-tailed  hawlc.  {Butco 


I  1 1" 


100 


NORTHKIIN     lARE 


l{(in(/lis,)  is  occnsionally  .seen  with  mw  oftliosd  species  in  its  talons.  F{ut 
ils  most  roniii();il)l('  cntMuy  is  {he  i:;rcat  lioriu-d  owl,  {lUiht  yir^iniiniiis.) 
\Vi>  iiavc  also,  on  omi  occasion,  observed  a  eonnnon  liouse-cat  (lrajj;i^ia>;;  a 
full  f,n-o\vn  Northern  ilare  from  tiic  woods,  to  feed  lier  yinuig.  Lads  on 
their  way  to  school,  entrap  thcni  with  snares  attached  to  a  l)ent  twi;?, 
l)laced  alonf"  the  j)aths  they  nightly  resort  to.  The  hunter  linds  r-.'crea- 
tion  ill  {lursuiiig  thein  with  hounds,  whilst  he  j)laces  himself  in  some, 
wood-path  where  they  were  last,  seen  to  pass.  The  Hare  runs  from  fifty 
to  a  hundred  yards  ahead  of  the  dogs,  and  in  its  windings  and  turnings  to 
escape  from  t'lcm  freciuently  returns  to  the  sjiot  where  the  hunter  is 
stationed,  and  falls  by  a  she!,  from  his  gun, 

'I'he  Northern  Ilare,  when  rapidly  pursued,  makes  such  great  ellbrts  to 
escajjc,  that  the  poor  creature  (as  we  have  said  already)  is  occasionally 
successful,  and  fairly  outruns  the  hounds,  whilst  the  hunter  is  cunningly 
aAoided  by  it  when  doubling.  After  one  of  these  hard  chases,  howcner, 
we  have  known  the  animal  die  from  the  fatigue  it  had  undergone,  or  from 
having  been  overheated.  We  once  saw  one,  which  had  been  closely 
pressed  by  the  dogs  nearly  all  the  afternoon,  return  to  a  thicket  alter  tlm 
hounds  had  been  called  olf  and  the  sportHlinen  had  given  up  the  vain  ])ursuit. 
Next  morning  we  ex;. mined  the  place  to  which  it  had  retired,  and  to  our 
surprise,  discovered  the  hare  sitting  in  its  form,  under  a  dwarlish,  crooked, 
pine-bush;  it  was  covered  with  snow  and  (piite  dead.  In  this  instance  tie 
hare  had  no  doubt  been  greatly  overheat  d  by  the  race  of  the  preceding 
day,  as  well  as  exhausted  and  terrilied;  and  the  poor  thing  being  in  that 
eoiulition  very  suscei)tible  of  cold  was  probably  chilled  by  tli(>  night  air 
and  the  falling  snow,  until  its  palpitating  heart,  gradually  impelling  the 
\  ital  tluid  with  fainter  and  slower  pulsufions,  at  length  ceased  its  throb- 
biiigs  liirever. 

Sometimes  we  have  tound  these  Hares  dead  in  the  woods  after  tlie  melt- 
ing of  the  sno\v  in  the  Spring,  and  on  examination  we  lt)uii(l  they  were 
entangled  in  portions  of  wire  snares,  frecpuMitly  entwined  round  their 
necks,  from  which  they  had  becMi  unable  to  extricate  themselves. 

This  species  when  caughl  alive  cannot  be  taken  into  the  hand  like  the 
gray  rabbit,  with  impimiiy;  the  latter,  when  seized  by  the  ears  or  hind- 
legs  soon  becomes  (piiet  and  is  harmless;  but  the  Northern  Hare  strug- 
gles to  escapt%  and  makes  a  formidable  resistance  with  its  teeth  and  nails. 
On  one  occasion  a  servant  wiio  was  expert  at  catching  tla^  gray  rabbit  in 
traps,  came  to  us  with  a  rueful  countenance  holding  a  hare  in  his  hands, 
fxhibili;ig  at  the  same  time  siiiidry  severe  scratcla^s  he  had  received, 
showing  us  his  torn  clothes,  and  a  jjlace  on  his  leg  which  the  animal 
had  bitten,  and  decUnng  that  he  had  caught  "a  rabbit  as  cross  as  a 


"l 


NORTIIKliX   IFAIUO. 


JOl 


....       W.  asocruin,.,!  it  to  1...  h  Nortl.n-n  'I.n-  i,.  i,s  suuunn-  .l-ss.  u.ul 

al.l>U   l.y  .s  ....lour,  I...  .......inly  ......iv..,!  .  ,.,..,,i,.:.l   |,.ss..n  i,.   ,..uj 

history  wlii.rl,  |„.  ,li,|  „„,,  ,,„„„  i;„.j,,,f.  "'" 

A  HviM,  i„,livi.lual  of  tl.is  sp^i.-s,  wl.i.l.  uv  h:uv  i„  Cl..,-I,.s.,,m  in 
H  u mully  .l..,M..Hl..,.U..d  stal..,  C,,- ,1...  ,„„•,„..,  ..f  tryi...  to  us...,.,.i,.  th., 
ef  ...M  ol  ,.  u-,.m.  .•Ii.nato  on  its  oh.an^r.s  ol'  coicm-,  is  particularly  cross 
wl..n  app.....|.,.„  I.,  ,  ,„,,„„,     ,,  ,,,,,.^  ,^  ,,     ^^,^;  y  -- 

.n....r  wul.  ahnost  a  .rowl.  an.l  is  r..a.ly  witl.  its  da.s  an,|  l,U  U^L 
^.<sn.^.,  „,.l  in(li..t  a  w..m..l  .>,.  tl.o  person  who  has  arons...  itslro. 
When  thus  ..x..,,,.,l   it  n-M.i„,|..,|  us  hy  i,s  attitu.h,s  ..C  .n  an^ry  raco..n. 

11-  .sl<...  o.  ,h,.  ,N.,r,h..n.  ir.n...  is  so  tcn.lnr  an.I  easily  torn,  an.l  the  fur 
>s  so  apt  I.,  he  spoiled  and  drop  olF  on  l.ein^r  |,,„,,|,.,,,  „,„  j,  j^  ,,i^,.^^,,,^  ^^ 
prepnr,.  p..rleet  specimens  Cor  ihe  naturalist's  ..ahinet,  The  p.dt  is  not  in 
.m.d.   r...,u..st  au..,n^  ,1,..  nu-ri..rs.  an.l   is  n..ar,l..,l    l.y  the  hat.er  as'  of 

•"''   ^'"'•"■-      ".e  lun,I-i;...t,  however,  are   used   l.y  the  latfr   in  a  part  of 
the  process  1^  whi..h  the  soli,  ^h.ssy,  surlaee  is  i„.parte<l  to  his  i;U,ric 
Htid  answer  the  purp..se  of  a  sol't  liat-hriish. 

<!i;oouArin(\i,  [.isTRiiimoN. 

This  species  ,s  Ibun.l  in  portions  ..f  th..  IJrilish  possessions,  ns  (-tr  as  the 
s.Kty-e..hth  paralhd  of  .X..r,h  la.i.u.le.  ,t  is,  h...v,.ve,  confined  to  the 
l-.'.stern  portn.n  ,.l  our  C.,nlin,.nt;  U„;„Aunso.v.  who  represents  it  as  "a 
"""""••"  ■•""'""I  '■'•..ni  on,.  ,.x,r,.M,i.y  of  ,he  Contin,.nt  to  the  other,"  se.-tns 
^lw,ve  nustnl..,.  lor  it  nn..,h..r  sp,.ei..s  which  replaces  it  on  the  North 
VVest  c..ast.  Althouuh  it  ,l,...s  not  ran,.,  as  li-.r  to  the  Xorth  as  th.. 
oh.r  hnre,  ,t  .s  deci.l...||y  .  X,.,,,.,,.,  species;  it  is  ioun.l  at  ilu.is..n-s 
l^.^.  m  ^ew(.,un,Ihu.d,  Canndn,  al!  the  New-Mn.lan.I  States,  and  i..  th,. 
>...Hh,.rn  por.,..ns  ..f  X.,w.Vorlc,   h.nnsylvania,  and  Old...     M...  ,,.,„,,,,, 

»  the  Northern  par  ol  Vn.,ini,..  I..,.  ...^  ,.',  wh,.re  it  i.a.l  never  before 
-"'>'-.•-..  ,y  t  ,.  inh.l.itants.  ()..  seeKin.  ,or  it  aHerwanls  in  the 
N.calMy  irotn  wluch  h.-  ohtain,..!  it,  we  w..re  unsuceesslul,  an.l  w,.  at-e  in- 
^^clU.hehevethatitiso.dy  oceasionnlly  that  some  strn..l..r  wnn.l..rs 
80  f. u  South  a,n.,n,.  these  mountains,  and  that  its  South,.rn  liuwl  .nav  I.,, 
set  down  at  about  .10°.  • 


I  •  "l« 


r.ENERAr,    RKMAkKS. 

The  history  of  this  Hare  has   been   att..,r,,t..d    from   time  to  time    by 
..  i.Iv  und  recent  travellers  and  naturalists,  an.l  m.,st  of  ,h,.i,.  accounts  of 


W2 


NORTHERN  HARE. 


it  lire  only  sou  ccs  (f  iicri'lexity,  and  .-ulditional  (liinciilti«!S  in  the  way  of 
the  naturalist  of  the  present  day.  Stran<,'e  mistakes  were  connnitted  by 
some  of  those  who  wrote  on  the  subjeet,  from  I'bnnant  down  to  IIari.an, 
GoD.MA.v,  and  others  still  later;  and  one  error  appears  to  have  led  to  anolher. 
until  even  the  ideality  of  the  species  meant  to  be  described  by  diti'erent 
authors,  was  finally  involved  in  an  almost  inextricable  web  of  em- 
barrassment. 

Ag  iar  as  we  liavc  been  able  to  ascertain,  the  Northern  Hare  was 
first  noticed  l)y  Sagard  Tiikodat,  (Hist,  de  Canada,)  in  lOaO,  Kalm,  (who 
tra\.  lied  in  America  from  1718  to  17.-)I,  and  whose  work  was  published  in 
the  Swedish  languaf,'e,  and  soon  after  translated  into  German  and  Enj;lish,) 
speaks  of  this  species  as  follows :—"  Hares  are  likewise  said  to  be  plen- 
tifid  even  in  Hudson's  Bay,  and  they  are  abundant  in  Canada,  where 
I  have  often  seen,  and  found  them  perfectly  corresponding,'  witfi  our 
Swedish  hares.  In  sununer  they  have  a  brownish-^^ray,  and  ir.  wititer  a 
snowy-white  colour,  as  with  us."  (Kalm's  Travels,  &c.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  45. 
English  translation.) 

'J'his  judicious  and  intellifrent  traveller,  undoubtedly  here  referred  to  the 
Northern  Hare.  He  supposed  it  to  be  idei-  ical  with  the  Al|)ine  or  vari- 
able  Hare,  {fjrjJiis  variabilis,)  which  is  found  in  Sweden  and  other  North- 
ern countries  of  Europe.  That  species  is  a  little  larj^'er  than  the  North- 
ern Hare,  and  the  tips  of  its  ears  are  black;  but  allh()U',di  it  i^:  a  distinct 
sj.ecies,  it  so  nearly  resend)les  the  latter,  that  several  authors,  Gouman  not 
excepted,  were  induced  to  reifard  these  two  species  as  identical.  Kalm, 
(see  vol.  i.,  p.  lOa,  Eng.  trans.,)  whilst  he  was  in  the  vicinity  of  Philadel- 
phia, where  the  Northern  Hare  never  existed,  gave  a  correct  account  of 
another  species,  the  American  gray  rabbit,  which  we  v/ill  notice  more 
in  detail  when  we  describe  that  animiil.  It  is  very  evident  that  in  these 
two  notices  of  American  hares,  Kai.m  had  reference  to  two  distinct  spe- 
cies, and  that  he  pointed  out  those  distinctive^  marks  by  which  they  are 
.sejjarated.  If  subsequent  authors  confounded  the  two  species,  and  created 
confusion,  their  errors  evidently  cannot  be  owing  to  any  fault  of  the  emi- 
nent Swedish  traveller. 

The  first  sjiecimcMis  of  the  Northern  Hare  that  appeared  in  Europe, 
.were  sent  by  the  servants  of  thi'  Hudson's  IJay  Company  to  England  in 
1771,  (se(^  IMiil.  Trans.,  vol.  Ixii.,  p.  i;j.)  There  were  four  specimens  in 
the  collgclion,  exliihiting  the  various  gradations  of  colo-v.  \v  addition  to 
these,  a  living  animal  of  the  same  sju'cies  was  received  nl  out  the  same 
time.  pro])ably  by  the  ssme  ship.  It  was  brou-ht  to  the  notice  of  the 
Philosoi)hical  Society,  in  a  letter  from  the  Hon.  Daises  Barrinc.ton,  read 
lOth  .lanuary,  1772.     This  letter  is  interesting,  since  it  gives  us  some  idea 


NORTHERN  HARE. 


103 


01  he  state  of  natural  science  in  England,  at  that  early  .lay.  The  ani- 
"-1  -.1  lor  .so,„e  ti„,e  remained  alive,  but  had  died  in  the  previous  n1 
vend,..,..  I,  ha.l  at  that  time  already  changed  its  sun.rher'colou  an^ 
become  nearly  whUe.  It  was  i.Un,,  in  order  to  ascertain  whether  il  was 
a  hare  or  a  rabbit,  as  according  to  U.v.  i,"  the  llesh  was  brown  it  was  a 
.re   d         ,    ...       ,„,     ,,  ^^,^^,^,  ^^  „^  ^^^^^.^_^  ^^__^^  ^^^^  ^^^^^^^^^  w.. 

d  ti.ire.     1  tie  test  was  stran'^e  enmitrl,    K„f  » i,„  ■     • 

,      ,,         ,,    ,  'Mi.uipc  (nougii,  but  the  conclusion  was  correct 

fn   May  01   .he  same  yea,  J.  R.  Fo.srKi,  Es.,,  F.  U.  S.,  describ  d    h   " 
among  twenty  qua.lrupeds,  th.t  had  been  sent  Irom  Hudson's  U.y      j^l 
«.vmg  an  account  of. he  manner  in  which  it  was  captured  bv  s,uu.s  hkI 
".    H-ass  wire  an.l  pack  thread,  he  designates  its  size  as  "  bigger  tha     the 
-bi^it.   but  less  than  the  Alpine   hare."     In  this  he  was  :;nte  c  J^ 
e    hen  goes  on  to  show  that  its  hind-feet  are  longer  in    n-opor.ion  t o 
'he  body  than  those  of  the  rabbit  an.I  common  hare.  Sec      L  iinal 
speaks  of  its  habits,  and  here  his  first  error  occurs      Ka  m's  ! 
of /.,,„  ,i:fn„.„„f  •  occurs.     IVALM  8  accounts 

ol  .«  di  I,.,,  nt  s^  ec.es  were  supposed  by  him  u,  refer  to  one  species  only 
aid  whdst  .he  No,.,hern  Hare  was  ./e.vo.W-some  o  the  /l/^ol  n! 
American  gray  rabbit  were  incorrectly  referred  to  it. 

As.  however,  FoHsTER  gave  it  no  specific  name  and  his  description  on 
the  whole  was  but  a  loose  one,  it  was  lelt,  to  another  naturalist  to  give 
It  a  .scientidc  appellation.  ^ 

1.1  1777,  EUX1.KBK.V  gave  the  first  scientific  description  of  it.  and  named  it 
Lr,us  A..nconus.  ScuKKn.u,  (as  we  are  prepared  .o  show  in  our  article 
on  /.,>«.v  s,I,-ancus;)  published  an  account  of  it  immediately  afterwards 
"lider  the  name  of  Le/;«.v  n«„«,v.  ^       iti warns, 

This  deseriplion,  as  may  easily  be  seen,  was  principally  taken  from 
F-asi...     Sai^rK.  about  the  same  period,  and  P....s  in  1778,  under  th" 
name  o    L.  m,lson>c,.,  r.nd  Pk.....  in  1780,  under  that  of  .l.J.W^W 
followed  each  other  in  quick  succession. 

In  GMnu.'s   L,xx.K,.,  (1788,)  it  is  very  impern-ctly  described  in  one 

N  t        u        u  ""  "'^'""  ^"^'"'  ""  "-''"'  "•■  ^—  i»  ^ivino.  to  the 
Northern  Hare  the  habits  of  ,l.e  American  gray  rabbit 

In  .he  work  of  De^,.hkst,  (Mammalogie,  ou  description  des  especes  de 
Mammi.eres  p.  ....,   Pari,  18.0,)  a  description  is  given  of  "Esp'l.ievr 
J  Am^nque,    .pus  Ameneanus."     This,  howc-ver,  instead  of  beL  a  de! 
senp,„.n  ol  ,he  .rue  L.  AnrrHcanu.  of  all  previous  authors,  i.    n  most  nnr 
|-lars  a  pn.„y  good  description  of  our  .my  rabbit.     IT.k,...v.  who  ^d.- 

''^'■■••''ly.  ••-,.  ,o  us  (aults,  (see  Fauna  Americana,  p.  100.)  Havin.  thu^. 
erroneously  disposed  of  the  gray  rabbit  under  the  name  of  L.  A:eriZ 
nus.  .he  .rue  Upas  Amrrirnaus  was  named  bv  him  /.  Vh.^i,„„nu..  '     The 


I     ' 


104 


NOUTIIEUN  HARE. 


fdllowiiii?  yc.'ir,  Dr.  Gouman  «:avr  a  dcsciiplio     of  the  Northern  Hare,  rp* 
ftri'iiijjf  it  to  tin-  livpus  laiitibilis  of  Eiiropr! 

AfliM'  Dr.  liit'iiAKi»s()N'.s  return  from  his  pcrihnis  journey  through  the 
Polar  regions,  he  jjrepared  in  Eiiy;hin(l  his  vahiahii-  Fauna  Boreali  Ameri- 
cana, whicii  was  puljlished  in  IS-JJ).  Spoeinieiis  hiixlled  L.  AiiKiieonun 
of  Ei(xi.i'.i!i;s,  wert!  still  in  the  IJrilish  Museum,  and  he  puhlisln.'d  (h'scrip- 
tions  of  iiis  own  speeimeiis  under  that  name.  The  gray  rahhit  did  not 
ct»me  w'thin  tlie  range  of  liis  iiivestigaticms,  hut  liaving  received  a  hun- 
ter's skill  from  tin;  vieiiiity  of  i'le  Columhia  river,  he  supposed  i*^  to  he 
the  L  \  ir^inioniis  iA'  Uari.an,  and  (h-scrihed  it  under  that  name.  This 
skill,  however,  lias  since  proved  to  i)elong  to  a  dill'erenl  species;  thr 
Northern  liare  not  heiiig  lound  in  the  regions  hordering  that  river. 

In  1887,  liaving  several  new  sjieeies  of  llarc  to  descrihe,  we  began  lo 
look  into  this  suhject,  and  ench'avoured  to  correct  tlie  errors  in  regard  tc 
the  speeu's,  that  had  crept  into  the  works  of  various  authors. 

We  had  not  seen  J'wixi.r.nKN's  work,  and  supposing  that  the  species  were 
correctly  designated,  we  puiilished  our  views  of  the  hahhs,  &c.,  of  the 
two  species,  (whose  identity  and  proj)er  cognomen  we  hrve,  we  hope, 
just  estalilished.)  under  the  old  names  of  L.  Virgiiihniiis  and  //.  Amrri- 
cdHiis,  (see  .lour,  ol'  Acad,  of  Nat.  Sciences  of  Phila.,  vol.  vii.,  pi.  -J.  p. 
28-2.)  'I'he  article  had  scarcely  heen  printed,  before  we  obtained  a  copy 
of  Eiixi.K.HEN,  and  we  immediately  perceived  and  corrected  the  errors  that, 
had  \H'vn  committed,  giving  the  Northern  Hare  its  correct  name,  L.  Amcri- 
riitius,  and  ])estowiiig  on  the  gray  rahhit,  which,  through  the  mistakes 
we  have  already  dc^scrihed  had  been  left  without  any  name,  that  ot 
Lcpiis  si/lcalicns,  (.Tour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sciences  of  Phil.,  vol.  vii.,  p.  103.) 
'file  reasons  for  this  arrangement  were  given  in  our  remarks  on  the 
genus  Lra-L-s,  in  a  subscciueiit  i)aper,  (.Tour.  Acad.  Sc,  vol.  viii..  pi.  1, 
p.  Tf).)  ^vllere  we  characterized  a  number  of  additional  new  spec  ,  In 
181-,>,  Dr.  Di:kav,  (sec  Nat.  Hist,  of  New- York,  p.  yr>,)  acceding  to  this  ar- 
rangenu>nt  of  the  Northern  Hare  under  the  specific  name  of  Z.  Amcricanits, 
remarks,  "This  Hare  was  first  vaguely  indicated  T)y  Ekxleden  in  1777." 
in  a  spirit  of  great  fairness,  however,  that  author's  original  description 
was  nulilished  at  the  foot  of  the  article. 

In  Older  to  set  this  matter  at  rest,  remove  this  speqies  from  the  false 
position  ill  which  it  has  so  long  stood,  and  give  its  first  describer  the 
credit  to  which  he  is  entitled,  we  will  here  insert  the  description  above 
alluded  to. 

"  Le])us  Ainericamis,  L.  caiida  abbreviata;  pedibus  posticis  corpore 
limidio  longioribus  ;  aiii'lcidarinn  caudoque  apieibus  :;riseis. 

"Die  Haseii— Kai,'.!.   IIikUoii's  Ha>  'iuidiuii..   I'. akiuncjion,  Phil.  Tran'v 


NORTIIKRN  HARK. 


105 


vol.  Ixu.,  p.  370.  Maxnitudine  mcdius  inter  L.  cuniculum  et  timidum  AI- 
pmmn,  (sc.  L.  timuhis,  Forstsr.  Phil.  Trans,  vol.  Ixii.,  p.  37r,.)  Auricu- 
lanmn  et  ca.i.lu;  apices  pcrpetuo  prisei  _  I'e.les  p„,stici  lon^iores  qi,„rn 
..1  L.  t.m.,1.,  et  cuniculo,  color  j^riseo-fuscus ;  Hieme  in  IriKidioribu. 
albus. 

"Habitat  in  America  boreali  ad  fretuin  Iludsoni  copiosissimus  noctur- 
nus  Non  f.Bdit,  de-it  sub  arborum  ra.licibus,  inque  cavis  arboribus 
Pant  bis  vel  seinel  in  a.mo;  piillos  .,uin(,ue  ad  septeni;  caro  bona,  colore 
L.  tiniidi." 

In  great  deference,  we  would  submit  whether  tlie  above  is  not  moro 
than  a  "  ougue  mdiction  "  of  a  species.  To  us  it  appears  a  tolerably  full 
descnpion  for  the  era  in  which  the  author  lived  and  considering  the 
few  spi'cies  of  Hare  then  known. 

There  were  at  that  early  period  but  three  Hares  with  which  natural- 
ists  were  familiar:— A.  Ihnidas,  the  com-^ion  European  Hare;  /^.  varinhilis 
the  variable  Hare ;  and  L  cuniculus,  the  European  burrowing  rabbit.  With 
these  Erxlkiikv  compares  this  species  in  size  and  colour.  With  the  excep- 
tion of  one  of  the  habits  he  mentions,  this  description  appears  to  us  ere- 
ditable  to  him.   There  have  been  many  occasions,  when,  perplexed  in  -uess- 
ing  at  the  species  intended  to  be  described  by  old  authors,  (the  Father'of  na- 
tural history,  LiNN.Eus  himself,  not  excepted,)  we  would  havi  hailed  a  de- 
scription  like  this,  as  a  light  in  darkness.  The  species  Erxlebev  h.;d  in  view 
cannot  \w.  mistaken ;  he  dc^scribes  it  very  correctly  as  "  magnkudhir  '..cdins 
inter  L.  cuniculum  rt  limidum  Alpinum."    Our  American  gray  ra))bit,  in- 
stead  of  being  intermediate  between  L.  cuniculus  and  the  Alpine  hare  is 
smaller  than  either.     "  Pedes  postici  longiores  qwun  in  L.  timido  et  ami. 
culo."    Tile  long  hind-feet  are  distinctive  marks  of  the  Northern  Fare ; 
but  those  of  our  gray  rabbit  are  much  shorter  than  those  of  /..  timidus  or 
common  hare  of  Europe.    "  Hione  in  frigidioritms  alhus."    Or,  gray  rab- 
bit, contrary  to  the  assertion  of  most  authors,  does  not  become  white  in 
winter  in  any  latitude.     '^Habitat  in  America  boreali  ad  /return  Hudsoni 
copiosissimus."     Dr.  llioiiARnsov,  and  every  Northern  traveller  with  whom 
we  have  conversed,  have  assured  us  that  our  gray  rabbit  does  not  exist  at 
Hudson's  Bay,  where  the  Northern  Hare  is  quite  abundant,  and  where 
that  and  the  Polar  hare,  (the  last  named  species  existing  still  further 
North,)  are  the  only  species  to  be  found.     We  havo  examined  and  com- 
pared  the  original  specimen  described  by  Dr.  Richardson,  and  also  those  in 
the  British  Museum  that  have  successively  replaced  the  specimens  first 
sent  to  England,  and  find  that  they  all  belong  to  this  species.     In  fact 
our  gray  rabbit  is  very  little  known  in  England  or  Scotland;  since  after 
an  examination  of  all  the  principal  Museums  in  those  countries   we  met 


106 


NORTHERN  HARE. 


with  but.  two  specimens,  one  of  which  was  not  named,  and  the  other  war* 
not  improperly  labelled,  "Lepus  Americanus  Harlan,  non  Erxleben." 
The  rigid  rule  of  priority  will  always  preserve  for  the  Northern  Hare 
the  name  of  L.  Americanus,  whilst  L.  nanus,  L.  Hudsonicus,  and  L.  Vir- 
ginianus,  must  be  set  down  merely  as  synonj  mes 


107 


GENUS  FIBER.— lLL,f;EH, 


DENTAL    FORMULA. 


fnctsive  -;      .]folar   —  =10 

Lower  incisors,  sharp-pointed,  and  convex  in  front;  molars,  with  flat 
crowns,  furnished  with  scaly  transverse  zig-zag  lamina.  Fore-feet  with 
lour  toes  and  the  rudiment  of  a  thumb;  hind-feet,  with  five  toes  the 
edges  furnished  with  stiff  hairs,  which  assist  the  animal  in  swimming  in- 
stead of  the  feet  being  palmated  or  webbed;  hind-toes,  slightly  palmated. 
J  ail,  long,  compressed,  granular,  nearly  naked,  having  but  a  few  scattered 
hairs.  Glands,  near  the  origin  of  the  tail,  which  secrete  a  white,  musky 
and  somewhat  offensive  fluid.     Mamma3  six,  abdominal. 

This  genus  differs  from  the  Arvicol^  in  its  dentition;  the  first  inferior 
molar  has  one  point  more  than  the  corresponding  tooth  in  the  latter,  and 
all  the  molars  acquire  roots  immediately  after  the  animal  becomes  an 
adult.  We  have  fre.juently  heard  complaints  made  by  students  of  natu- 
ral history,  of  the  difficulties  they  had  to  encounter  at  the  very  outset 
from  the  want  of  accuracy  and  uniformity  in  the  works  of  authors  when 
seating  the  characters  by  which  thoy  defined  the  genera  they  established. 
J  lie  justness  of  these  complaints  may  be  well  illustrated  by  examining  the 
accounts  of  the  present  genus  as  given  by  several  well-known  writers 

Iluher  says  it  has  four  molars  on  each  side,  (UtHnqui  quaterni,) 
see  Prodromus  systematis  mammaliarum  et  avum,  making  in  all  twenty 
teeth  W.r..=MAN  and  Rutme  have  given  the  same  dental  arrangement, 
see  ILuulbu,.].  der  Zoologic,  Berlin,  1832.  F.  CirvrEH,  who  has  been  fol- 
lowed by  most  authors,  has  given  it-Incisive  |;  Canine  J~f,  =  sixteen 
teelh.  Giuvvvm,  Animal  Kingdom,  vol.  iii.,  p.  10(5,  describes  it  as  having- 
rnois.ve  f  ;  Cnnin,^  ^-i  zz  twenty  teeth;  and  in  his  synopsis  of  the  spe- 
c.-s  of  mammalia,  (sp.  53- )  its  dental  arrang.Mnent  is  thus  characferized- 
n.cs.ve  f,  Cani.ie  f-f,  Cheek-teeth,  ^-.}.  giving  to  it  the  extravagant 
number  of  twenty-eight  teeth.  This  last  statement  is  most  probal)Iv 
only  a  typogrnphical  error.  A  correct  examination  and  description  of 
»I.e  teeth  „f  this  genus  re.,uires  a  eonsidernble  degree  of  labour,  besides 
great  attention  an<l  .-are.  as  they  are  pla,-e.l  so  close  to  e.ieh  other  that 
without  a  good  magnifying  glass  it  is  diincult   fo  find  the  lines  ..f  ^enara- 


,..   I 


'"\:m 


108 


MUSK-llAT 


lion,  and  almost  impossible  to  ascertain  their  number  witliout  extracting 
them  one  by  one. 

The  descriptions  and  figures  of  their  dental  arrangement,  by  Bl  on 
CuviER  and  F.  Cuvier,  are  correct :  see  Ondatras,  dents  des  mammiteres, 
pi.  53,  p.  157,  and  Ilecherches  sur  les  ossemens  Ibssiles,  t.  5,  p.  1. 

Ii.liger's  generic  name,  Fiber,  is  derived  from  the  Latin  word,  Fiber,  a 
beaver.    There  is  only  one  species  described  as  belonging  to  this  genus. 


FIBER    ZIBETHICUS.— Linn. 

Mi;sk-Rat. — MusauASH. 

PLATE  XIII — Old,  and  Yolno. 

F.  supra,  rufo-fuscus;   subtus  cinereus;   Leporem  sylvaticum  magni- 
tudine  sub  sequans. 

CHARACTERS. 

General  colour,  reddish-brown  above,  cinereous  beneath ;  about  the  size  of 
the  American  gray  rabbit. 


8YNONYMES. 

MussAscus,  Smith's  Virginia,  1620.      (Pinkerton's   Collection  of  Voyages  and 

Travels,  vol.  xiii.,  p.  31.) 
Rat  Musque,  Sagaid  TJieodat,  Canada,  p.  771. 
Castou  ZinnTiucis,  Linn.  Sy.st.  Nat.,  xii.  ed.,  vol.  1,  p.  79. 
L'Ondatua,  Button,  Tom  10,  p.  1. 
MusKRAT,  Lawson,  Carolina,  p,  120. 
Musk  Bkavkk,  Pcnnunt,  Arc.  Zool.,  vol.  i.,  p.  106. 
Musquash,  Iluarne,  Journey,  p.  379. 
Mus  ZiDKTincus,  Linn.,  Gmel.,  vol.  i.,  p.  126. 
FiiiKK  ZiDETiiicMs,  Sahim,  Franklin's  Journey,  p.  65'J. 
Musk  Hat,   Godnian'.s  Nat.  Hist.,  d.  58. 
O.SDAHiiiA,  Huron  Indians. 
MusiiUAsii,  Watsuss,  or  Waiiuhk;  the  animal  that  sits  on  the  ico  m  a  round 

form.     Cree  Indians,  (ilichardson.) 


DESCRII'TION. 


Body,  of  a  nearly  cylindrical   shape,  resembling  that  of  the  Norway 
rat.     Head,  short:    nrck,  very  short,  and  iiidislinct ;    legs,  shorf  ;   thigh? 


If  .  4 


1^^ 


"    s 


.fe' 


\ 


\ 


^ 


I 

\ 


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03 


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f-i 

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iC 

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a 

a 

a 

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i     I; 


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ri 


ii    \         ' 
K  1     ! 


MUSK-RAT. 


109 


hid  in  the  body.  Tail,  two-thirds  the  length  of  the  body,  compressed, 
convex  on  the  sides,  thickest  in  the  middle,  tapering  to  an  acute  point 
at  the  extremity ;  covered  with  small  scales,  which  are  visible  through 
the  thinly  scattered  hairs.  Incisors,  large ;  upper  ones,  a  little  rounded 
anteriorly  without  grooves,  truncated  on  the  cutting  edge ;  lower  ones, 
a  little  the  longest;  nose,  thick,  and  obtuse;  whiskers,  moderate  in 
length,  seldom  reaching  beyond  the  ear;  eyes,  small,  and  lateral,  nearly 
concealed  in  the  fur;  ears,  short,  oblong,  covered  with  hair,  and  hidden 

by  the  fur. 

On  the  fore-legs,  the  wrist  and  fingers  only  are  visible  beyond  the 
body,  they  are  covered  with  a  short  shining  coat  of  hair. 

The  thumb  has  a  conspicuous  palm,  and  is  armed  with  a  nail,  as 
long  as  the  adjoining  finger  nails.  Hind-legs,  as  short  as  the  fore-legs, 
so  that  the  body  when  the  animal  is  walking  touches  the  ground. 

The  hind-feet  are  turned  obliquely  inwards,  and  at  first  sight  remind  us 
of  the  foot  of  a  duck.  The  two  middle  toes  may  be  called  semi-palm- 
ated  and  there  is  also  a  short  web  between  the  third  and  fourth  toes. 
The' margins  of  the  soles,  and  toes,  are  furnished  with  an  even  row  of 
rigid  hairs,  curving  inwards ;  under-surface  of  feet,  naked;  claws,  coni- 
cal, and  slightly  arched. 

The  whole  body  is  clothed  with  a  short,  downy,  fur,  intermixed  with 
longer  and  coarser  hairs.  In  many  particulars  the  skin  resembles  that  of 
the  beaver,  although  the  fur  is  far  less  compact,  downy  and  lustrous. 


COLOUR. 


Fur  on  the  upper  parts  a  third  longer  than  beneath ;  from  the  roots 
to  near  the  extremities,  bluish-gray,  or  lead-colour,  tipped  with  brown; 
on  the  under  surface  it  is  a  little  lighter  in  colour,  and  the  hairs  are 
tipped  with  brownish-gray.  This  species,  when  viewed  from  above,  ap- 
pears  of  a  general  dark-brown  colour,  with  a  reddish  tint  visible  on  the 
neck,  sides,  and  legs;  chin,  throat,  and  under-surface,  grayish-ash;  tail, 
dark-brown.  Incisors,  yellow;  naila,  white.  The  colour  of  this  animai 
so  much  resembles  that  of  the  muddy  banks  on  which  it  is  frequently 
seated,  that  we  have  oi\en,  when  looking  at  one  from  a  little  distance, 
mistaken  it  for  a  lump  or  clod  of  earth,  until  it  moved. 


DIMENSIONS. 


Length  of  head  and  body 

"      of  tail      - 
From  heel  to  longest  nail 
Heinlil  of  ear 


15  inches. 
10      do. 
3       do. 

i       do. 


»  I 


i 


110 


MUSK-RAT. 


HABITS. 


Reader !  if  j'ou  are  a  native  of,  or  have  sojourned  in  any  portion,  almost, 
of  our  continent,  and  have  interested  yourself  in  observing  the  "  beasts  of 
the  fiijlri  '  in  our  woods  or  along  our  streams,  to  the  slightest  degree,  you 
have  probably  often  seen  the  Musk-llat;  or  should  you  have  been  confined 
to  the  busy  marts  of  commerce,  in  our  large  cities,  you  may  even  there 
have  seen  his  sirin,  and  thouglit  it  a  beautiful  fur.  It  is,  in  fact,  when 
the  animal  is  killed  in  good  season,  superior  to  very  many  other 
materials  lor  making  hfuccr  (?)  hats,  as  well  as  for  other  purposes,  and 
thousands  of  Musk-Rat  skins  are  annually  used  in  the  United  States, 
while  still  greater  numbers  are  shipped  to  Europe,  principally  to  Great 
Britain. 

This  species  is  nocturnal,  and  consequently  its  manners  and  customs 
cannot  be  correctly  ascertained  from  the  occasional  glimpses  of  it  which 
we  obtain  by  day-light,  as  it  may  chance  to  pass  rapidly  through  the 
water  seeking  to  conceal  itself  under  the  root  of  some  large  tree  project- 
ing into  the  deep  pool,  or  as  it  dives  suddenly  to  the  mouth  of  its  hole 
under  the  shelter  of  the  steep  or  over-hanging  bank  of  the  stream,  into 
which  it  hastily  retires  when  our  appearance  has  alarmed  it. 

We  have  often,  in  the  Northern  part  of  the  State  of  New- York,  or  on  the 
Schuylkill,  or  near  FrankforJ,  in  Pennsylvania,  gone  during  the  day  to 
look  for  and  observe  these  aniinals,  1o  places  where  we  knew  they 
abounded;  but  allhough  we  might  patiently  wait  for  hours,  with  book  in 
hand  to  beguile  the  time,  we  could  rarely  see  one,  and  should  one  appear, 
it  was  only  for  an  instant.  But  at  such  places,  so  soon  as  the  last  raj-s  of 
the  setting  sun  have  ceased  to  play  upon  the  smooth  water,  and  when 
the  last  bright  sparkling  tints  he  has  thrown  as  a  "  farewell  till  to-mor- 
row," u])on  rock  tree  and  floweret,  are  succeeded  by  the  deep  quiet  gray 
of  twilight ;  th{!  placid  surface  of  the  stream  is  agitated  in  every  direction, 
many  a  living  crcriture  emerges  from  its  diurnal  retreat  and  may  be 
observed  in  full  activity  above  or  beneath  the  water,  and  first  to 
appear  is  the  ]\Iusk-l{at — wiiich  may  perchance  dart  out  from  un- 
derneath the  very  old  slum])  on  which  we  have  been  so  patiently 
seated  !  We  are  perhaps  startled  by  an  unexpected  noise  and  plash 
—and  two  seconds  alter,  up  (M)mes  the  head  of  the  animal  to  the 
surface,  at  least  (iv(^  y.'irds  oil'— and,  if  we  happen  not  to  be  observt^d, 
we  may  look  on,  and  si(^  him  swimming  meiTily  with  his  eompa- 
tiions,  or  seeking  his  '•  lircaki'ast,"  for  his  day  has  just  begun  I 

Willi]    we    wcrt'    about    scvetiteen    years  of  age,    we   resided   on   our 


MUSK-RAT. 


Ill 


rarm,  "  Mill-Grove,"  situated  at  the  confluence  of  the  Schuylkill  river 
and  the  Perkiominj?  creek. 

On  the  latter,  above  a  mill-dam  which  then  existed,  there  was  an 
island  divided  from  the  shore  on  the  southerly  side  by  a  small  channel  not 
more  than  twenty-five  or  thirty  feet  in  widlh,  in  which  wc  had  occa- 
sionally observed  Musk-Ilats  swimming.     Having  a  friend  at  our  house 
for  a  few  weeks,  wc  one  evening  perf^uaded  him  to  accompany  us  to  this 
•spot,  with  the  view  of  procuring  a  few  of  these  animals.     Accordinglj-, 
after   due  preparation  we  made  our  way  toward  the  creek.     We  ap 
proached  the  bank  quietly,  and  seated  ourselves  on  some  moss-covered 
stones  without  disturbing  the  silence  of  the  night,  the  only  interruption 
to  which  was  the  gentle  ripple  of  the  pure  stream,  which,  united  with 
the  broader  Schuylkill,  still  flows  onward,  and  conveys  to  the  now  great 
city  of  Philadelphia,  that  inestimable  treasure  pure  water.     Here  then  we 
waited,  long  and  patiently— so  ,ong,  that  our  companion  became  restless, 
said  that  he  would  like  to  smoke   a  cigar,  and  accordingly   lighted  a 
"fragrant  Havana."     We  remained  watching,  but  saw  no  Musk-Rats 
that  evening,   as   these   cunning    animals   no  doubt   observed   the   light 
at  the  end  of  my  friend's  cigar.     We  have  since  that  tune  known  many  a 
sportsman  lose  a  shot  at  a  fine  buck,  by  indulging  in  this  relaxation,  while 
at  a  "stand,"  as  it  is  generally  term.Hl.     To  return  to  our  Musk-Rats,  we 
went  home  disappointed,  but  on  the  next  evening  proceeded  to  the  sa-me 
spot,  and  in  less  than  an  hour  shot  three,  which  we  secured.    Next  day 
we  made  a  drawing  of  one  of  them,  which  was  afterwards  lost.     We 
have  now  in  our  possession  only  two  drawings  of  quadrupeds  made  by  us 
at  this  early  period;  one  of  which  represents  the  American  otter,  and 
the  other  a  mink.     They  were  drawn  with  coloured  chalks  and  crayons, 
and  both  are  now  quite  rubbed  and  soiled,  like  ourselves  having  suffered 
somewhat  from  the  hand  of  time,  and  the  jostling  we  have  encountered. 
We  have  sometimes,  when  examining  or  describing  one  of  our  well- 
known  animals,  allowed  ourselves  to  fall  into  a  train  of  thought  as  we 
turned  over  the  pages  of  some  early  writer,  which  carried  us  back  to  the 
period  of  the  discovery  of  our  country,  or  still  earlier  explorations  of 
wild  and  unknown  regions.     We  have  endeavoured  to  picture  to  our- 
selves  the  curiosity  eagerly  "indulged,  the  gratified  hopes,  and  the  various 
other  feelings  that  must  have  filled  the  minds  of  the  adventurous  voyagers 
that  first  landed  on  AiwERrcA's  forest-margined  coast.     What  were  their 
impressions   on    seeing  the  strange   objects   that  met  their  eyes  in  all 
dir.>ctions?    what  thought  they  of  the  inhabitants  they  mot  with?   and 
what  were  their  ideas  on  seeing  birds  and  quadrupeds'  hitherto  unheard 
of  and   unknown  ?      The   most   indifferent  or   phlegmatic   temperament 


ii 


a 


112 


MUSK-RAT. 


must  have  been  aroused,  and  the  traveller,  whatever  his  profession — 
whether  soldier,  sailor,  trader,  or  adventurer — at  such  times,  doubtless, 
would  pause  for  awhile,  conceal  himself,  and  noiselessly  observe  the 
strange  movements  of  the  wonderful  creature  he  has  just  for  the  first 
time  seen — lor  all  the  Creator's  works  are  wonderful — and  it  is  only  be- 
cause we  behold  many  of  them  continually,  that  we  tinally  cease  to 
marvel  at  the  conformation  of  the  most  common  domesticated  species. 

Something  in  this  way  were  our  reflections  directed  while  turning 
over  the  pages  of  Cnpt'^in  John  Smith,  whose  life  was  preserved  by 
the  fair  and  heroic  Pocahontas.  This  gallant  soldier  was,  as  well  as 
we  can  learn,  the  first  person  who  gave  any  account  of  the  Musk-lta(. 
His  "General  History  of  A^irginia,  New  England,  and  the  Summer  Isles," 
was  published  in  London,  in  1024,  folio ;  he  styles  himself,  "sometime 
Governor  in  thoso  CountrieM,  and  Admiral  of  New  England." 

Smith,  in  this  account  of  Virginia,  &c.,  says  of  this  animal — "A  Mus- 
sascus  is  a  beast  of  the  form  and  nature  of  our  water-rat,  but  many  of 
them  smell  exceedingly  strong  of  musk." 

La  Hontan,  in  a  letter  dated  Boucherville,  May,  1687,  (see  Trav.  in 
Canada,)  says — "  In  the  same  place  we  killed  some  Musk-Rats,  or  a  sort  of 
animals  which  resemble  a  rat  in  their  shape,  and  are  as  big  as  a  rabbit. 
The  skins  of  these  rats  are  very  much  valued,  as  differing  but  little  from 
those  of  beavers."  He  goes  on  to  describe  the  manner  in  which  the  "  strong 
and  sweet  smell "  of  musk  is  produced ;  in  which  he  so  much  betrays  his 
ignorance  of  natural  history,  that  we  will  not  expose  the  vulgar  error  by 
repeating  it  here.  But  if  one  Frenchman  of  the  17th  century  committed 
some  errors  in  relating  the  habits  of  this  species,  another,  early  in  the 
18th,  (1725,)  made  ample  amends,  by  giving  us  a  scientific  description  of 
its  form,  internal  structure,  and  habits,  that  would  do  cred't  *u  the  most 
careful  investigator  of  the  present  day.  This  accompli  h>,d  naturalist 
was  Mons.  Sarrasin,  King's  Physician  at  Quebec,  and  correspondent  of 
the  Y'^^^^-Sa  Academy ;  in  honour  of  whom  Linn^us  named  the  genus 
Surrasenia.  He  dissected  a  number  of  Musk-Rats,  described  the  animal, 
gave  an  account  of  the  "  follicles  which  contain  the  perfume,"  and  noted 
its  habits. 

To  this  intelligent  physician,  Buffon  was  principally  indebted  for  the 
information  which  enabled  him  to  draw  up  his  article  on  the  Canadian 
Musk-Rat. 

In  1789,  Kalm,  (Beschreibung  der  Reise  nach  den^  Noerdlichcn  Ame- 
rica;) gives  a  very  correct  account  of  the  characteristics  and  habits  of 
this  Species. 

Musk-Rats  are  lively  playful  animals  when  in  their  proper  element 


MUSK-RAT. 


113 


tl  '•  Nvatrr,  and  many  of  them  may  be  occasionally  seen  disporting  on  a 
calm  ni-ht  in  some  mill-j  ond  or  deep  sequestered  pool,  crossing  and  re- 
crossing  in  .very  direction  1,  aving  long  ripples  in  the  water  behind  them 
whilst  others  stand  ibr  a  few  moments  on  little  knolls  or  tnfrs  of  grass  or 
on  stones  or  logs,  on  which  they  can  get  footing  above  the  water,  or' on 
the  banks  of  the  pond,  and  then  plunge  one  after  another  into  the  water; 
a.  'imes,  one  is  seen  lying  perfectly  still  on  the  surface  of  the  pond  or 
stream,  with  its  body  widely  spread  out,  and  as  flat  as  it  can  be.     Sud- 
denly it  gives  the  water  a  smart  (lap  with  its  tail,  somewhat  in  the  man- 
ner  of  the  beaver,  and  disappears  beneath  the  surface  instantaneously- 
going  down  head  Ibremost-and  reminding  one  of  the  quickness  and  ease 
with  A'hich  some  species  of  ducks  and  grebes  dive  when  shot  at.     At  the 
distance  of  ten  or  twenty  yards,  the  Musk-Rat  comes  to  the  surface  again, 
and  perhr  ps  joins  its  companions  in  their  sj.orts;  at  the  same  time  others 
are  feeding  on  the  grassy  banks,  dragging  off  the  roots  of  various  kinds  of 
plants,  or  digging  underneath  the  edge  of  the  bank.     These  animals  thus 
seem  to  Ibrm  a  little  community  of  social  playful  creatures,  who  only  re- 
quire to  be  unmolested  in  order  to  be  happy.     Should  you  fire  off  a  Ibvvl- 
ing-piecc  whilst  the  Musk-Ilats  are  thus  occupied,  a  terrible  fright  and 
dispersion  ensues— dozens  dive  at  the  flash  of  the  gun,  or  disappear  in 
their  holes;  and  although  in  the  day-time,  when  they  see  imperfectly,  they 
iiiay  be  shot  whilst  swimming,  it  is  exceedingly  difficult  to  kill  one  at 
night.     In  order  to  insure  success  the  gunner  must  be  concealed,  so  that 
the  animal  cannot  see  the  flash,  when  he  fires  even  with  a  percussion  lock. 
The  burrows  and  houses  of  this  species  are  not  constructed  on  such  ad- 
mirable architectural  jjrincijjles  as  those  of  the  beaver,  but  are,  neverthe- 
less, curious,  and  well-ad;ii)ted  for  the  residence  of  the  animal'.     Having 
enjoyed  o])portunitics  of  examining  them  in  several  portions  of  the  North- 
ern States,  and  having  been  present  when  hundreds  of  Musk-Rats  were 
taken,  either  by  digging  them  out  or  catching  them  in  traps,  we  will 
endeavour  to  describe  their  nests,  and  the  manner  in  which  the  hunt- 
ers  generally    proceed   in  ortler  to   procure    the    animals   that   are  in 
them. 

I«i  diirerent  localities  the  Musk-Rat  has  very  opposite  modes  of 
constructing  it;  winter  domicil.  Wlicre  there  are  overhanging  clayey 
or  loamy  banks  along  tlu;  stream  or  pond,  they  form  a  winter  retreat 
ni  the  side  of  the  bank,  with  openings  under  the  water,  and  their  gal 
leries  run  sometimes  to  the  distance  of  fifteen  or  twenty  yards  from 
the  shore,  inclining  upward,  so  as  to  be  above  the  influence  of  thf 
high  watei-s  on  the  breaking  up  of  th(!  i(;e  in  spring,  or  during  freshets. 
There  are  usually  three  or  four  entran(;es  from  under  the  water,  which 


114 


MUSK-KAT. 


all,  however,  unite  at  a  point  some  disfanoe  from  tlie  water,  ami  sti'.' 
ficiently  hi<,'li  to  he  secure  from  imuulation,  wliere  there  is  a  pretty  large 
excavation.  In  this  "central  hall"  we  have  seen  nests  that  would  fill  a 
husliel  l)asket.  They  were  composed  of  decayed  plants  and  grasses,  prin- 
cipally sed<,'e,  {t'firc.r,)  the  leaves  of  the  arrow-head,  (S(i:,ntt(iria,)  and  the 
pond-lily,  {Nymplucit.)  They  always  contained  several  dried  sticks,  some 
of  them  more  than  a  foot  in  lenf^th;  these  were  sometimes  arranged  along 
the  sides,  but  more  frequently  on  the  top  of  the  nests.  From  these  nests 
there  are  several  galleri(!s  extending  still  farther  from  the  shore  ;  into  the 
latter  the  animals  retreat,  when,  after  having  bei  a  prevented  from  .e- 
turning  to  the  water,  by  stoppi-".'  the  entrances,  they  arc  disturbed  in 
their  chamber.  Sometimes  we  hi.  -^  found  their  subterranean  f'.rong- 
holds  leading  into  others  by  transverse  galleries.  These  were  never  so 
far  beneath  the  surface  as  those  of  the  fox,  marmot,  or  skunk.  On  pass- 
mg  near  the  burrows  of  the  INlusk-liat,  there  is  always  sutRcient  evidence 
of  their  existence  in  the  vicinity:  the  excrement  of  the  animal,  re- 
sembling that  of  the  Norway  rat,  l)eing  deposite<l  around,  and  paths  that 
they  have  made  through  the  rushes  and  a(|uatic  plants,  that  grow  in  thick 
prolusion  in  the  inunediafe  neighbourhood,  being  easily  traced  ;  but  it  is 
not  so  easy  to  discover  the  eiil ranees.  The  latter  are  always  under  the 
water,  and  usually  where  it  is  deepest  near  the  shore.  When  the  Musk- 
Uat  is  about  to  retire  to  its  hole,  it  swims  4o  within  a  few  feet  of  the 
sliore,  and  then  dives  suddenly  and  enters  it.  If  you  are  standing  on  the 
bank  directly  above  the  mouth  of  the  hole,  the  rumbling  noise  under  your 
feet,  if  ycu  listen  attentively,  will  inform  you  that  it  has  entered  it.s  bur- 
row. It  seldom,  however,  immediately  retreats  far  into  its  hole,  but  has 
small  excavations  and  resting-places  on  the  dry  ground  a  little  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  water. 

'{"here  are  occasionally  very  differently  constructed  nests  of  the  Musk- 
Rat  ;  we  have  seen  some  of  them,  in  the  town  of  Clinton  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, and  along  the  margins  of  swamps  in  the  vicinity  of  Lake  Champla^n, 
in  the  State  of  New-York  ;  and  others  in  several  localities  in  Canada 
A  pond  supplied  chiefly  if  not  entirely  by  sj.iings  and  surrounded  by  low 
and  marshy  ground,  is  preferred  by  the  Musk-llats;  tbey  seem  to  be  aware 
that  the  spring-water  it  contains,  probably  will  not  be  solidly  frozen,  and 
there  they  prepare  to  pass  the  winter.  Such  a  place,  as  you  may  well 
imagine,  cannot  without  great  difficulty  be  approached  until  its  boggy 
anfl  treacherous  foundation  has  been  congealed  by  the  hard  frosts  and  the 
water  is  frozen  over;  before  this  time  the  Musk-Rats  collect  coarse 
grasses  and  mud,  with  whi(;li,  together  with  sticks,  twigs,  leaves,  and  any 
thing  in  the  vicinity  that  will  serve  their  |)urpose,  <liey  raise  their  li'iit- 


'Sdi-iM 


MUSK-RAT. 


115 


houses  from  two  to  four  feet  above  the  wa^er    the  entrance  being  always 
from  below.     W.  h..,ve  (re,,uently  opened  th,  se  nests  and  found  in  tho 
centre  a, lryc-nnf,„.,able  bed  of  «rass,  sumcicutly  lar^e  to  accommodate 
several  ol  ihrni.     '.»^hen  the  ponds  are  frozen  over,  and  a  sli-d.t   fall  of 
snow  .-ovirs  the  cround,  these  ediliees  resemble  small  hay-cocks      There 
.^  ano.her  peculiarity  thai,  it  appears  to  us,  indicates  a  greater  degree  of 
u.  Hh,..nce  m  the  Musk-Kat  ,han  we  are  usually  disposed  to  award  to  it. 
The  annnal  secn.s  to  know  that  the  ice  wiu  cover  the  pond  in  winter,  and 
tl>.«t  il  It  has  no  places  to  which  it  can  resort  to  breathe,  it  will  be  suffb- 
catrd.     Hence  you  hers  and  there  see  what  are  called  breathing  places 
Ih.  se  are  coyered  ovc-r  with  mud  on  the  sides,  with  some  loose  grass  in 
the  oentre  to  preserve  them  from  b.-ing  too  easily  frozen  over.     We  have 
occasionally  seen  these   winter-huts  of  the  Musk-Rat,  in  the  vicinity  of 
then-  snug  summer  retreats  in  some  neighbouring  rivers  bank,  and  have 
somet.mes    been  half  ...clined  to  suppose,  that  for  some  cause  or  other 
they  gave  a  preference  to  this  kind  of  residence.     We  are  not,  however 
aware  that  these  nests  are  maJ.e  use  ol'  by  i..e  Musk-Rat  in  spring  for 
Ihe  purpose  of  rearing  its  young.     We  believe  these  animals  always  for 
that   purpose    resort   to  holes   in  the  sides   of  ponds,   sluggish   streams, 
or  dykes.  ' 

In  such  situations  we  have  frequently  observed  the  young,  which  when 
Ihey  hrst  make  their  appearance  are  seon  emerging  from  a  side  gallery 
leading  to  the  surface,  so  that  they  are  not  of  necessity  obliged  to  "take 
a  dive"  until  they  have  had  a  little  ac<,uaintance  with  the  liquid  ele- 
ment. The,  are  at  this  time  very  gentle,  and  we  have  on  several  occa- 
sions taken  them  up  with  the  hand  without  their  making  any  violent 
struggles  to  escape,  or  attempts  to  punish  us  with  their  teeth. 

The  fur  e.  this  .pecies  was  formerly  a  valuable  articie  of  commerce,  and 
IS  stdl  in  some  demand.  But  .since  so  many  new  inventions  are  supply- 
ing the  public  with  cheap  hats,  and  the  Nutria  skin  has  been  ex^ensiyely 
introducul  from  South  Am,>rica,  the  Musk-Rat  is  less  sought  after,  and  in 
some  of  our  most  thickly  populate.l  districts  has  greatly  increased  in 
tmmbers.  The  country-people,  Tiowever,  continue  to  destroy  it  to  pre- 
vent  its  becoming  so  numerous  as  to  cause  loss,  by  making  holes  in  the 
rnill-danis.  embankments,  or  ditches,  that  happen  to  be  inhabited  by  it  and 
.-.llmving  th(.  water  to  flow  through,  .vh(-n  frequently  much  mischief  re- 
sults. The  .AIusk-Raf  has  little  of  the  cunning  of  the  fox,  the  beaver  or 
even  the  common  Xorw.'.y  rat.  and  may  be  easily  taken  in  ahnost  any  kind 
ft  trap;  and  although  it  is  very  proIiHc.  it  n.ight  by  proper  attention  be  so 
thinned  o(f  in  a  single  year  as  to  cease  to  be  a  nuisance.  A  dozen  com- 
mon rat-traps  carefully  a.ui  ju.liciously  attended  to  would  go  far  toward 


116 


MUSK-RAT. 


reducing  if  not  exterminating  those  pests  in  a  small  nei-hbourhood  in 
the  course  of  one  or  two  seasons.  The  traps  should  be  set  in  shallow  wa- 
ter  near  the  edge  of  the  stream  or  pool,  or  on  a  log  sunk  about  an  inch 
under  the  water,  witli  a  cord  ten  or  twelve  feet  long  so  as  to  prevent 
Ihe  animals  irom  running  away  with  the  traps  when  they  have  been 
caught;  one  or  two  slices  of  parsnips  or  sweet  apples  may  i)e  stuck  upon 
small  twigs  so  that  they  will  hang  about  six  inches  above  the  traps.  The 
animal,  having  evidently  a  good  nose,  whilst  swimming  at  some  little 
distance  from  the  traps  when  thus  set,  suddenly  turns  as  it  scents  the 
bait,  swms  along  the  shore  toward  it,  and  .caching  up  to  seize  it, 
is  caught  by  the  foot,  and  being  of  course  greatly  alarmed,  jerks  the 
trap  off-  the  log  or  pulls  it  into  the  water,  where  the  weight  of  the 
trap  soon  drowns  it.  The  Musk-Rat  also  readily  enters  and  is  easily  ta- 
ken in  a  box-trap,  but  it  ought  to  be  lined  with  tin  or  sheet  iron,  for 
its  formidable  incisors  otherwise  enable  the  animal  to  make  its  escape  by 
gnawing  a  hole  in  the  box.  We  have  sometimes  seen  it  taken  between 
two  boards  in  what  is  called  a  figure  of  4  trap,  with  a  heavy  weight  on 
the  upper  board. 

The  following  mode  of  hunting  the  Mi'sk-Rat  frequently  affords  a  con- 
siderable degree  of  amusement.  A  party  is  made  up  to  go :  a  spade,  an 
axe,  and  a  hoe,  are  carried  along,  and  .-  spear,  or  in  lieu  of  it,  a  pitch- 
fork ;  in  addition  to  these,  a  hoop-net  is  sometimes  wanted,  but  what  is 
most  important,  and  regarded  as  a  sine  qua  noii,  is  a  dog  accustomed  to 
hunting  these  aquatic  animals.  The  season  which  promises  most  suc- 
••ess  in  this  way  of  hunting  them  is  the  autumn,  before  the  heavy  rains 
have  swelled  the  waters.  The  party  go  to  some  sluggish  stream  that 
winds  through  a  meadow  or  across  a  flat  country  where  the  banks  are 
not  so  high  as  to  render  the  "digging"  that  has  to  be  done  too  laborious. 
The  little  islands  which  in  such  places  rise  but  a  few  feet  above  the  water, 
are  sometimes  perforated  by  the  Musk-Rats,  and  th<>ir  holes  and  exca- 
vations undermine  them  in  a  great  dc-gree,  so  that  it  is  difficult  to  (ind  and 
stop  all  the  mouths  of  these  galleries,  and  thereby  render  success  tolerably 
(•(■rtain.  Rut  as  these  are  the  very  places  in  which  the  greatest  number 
of  these  animals  are  to  be  found,  it  is  (|nite  imjwrtant  to  "invest"  them. 
It  is  necessary  to  be  very  cautious  in  diggitig  down  along  the  batdis  of 
these  islets,  in  order  to  reach  and  stop  up  the  holes,  and  it  usually  hap- 
pens that  notwithstaiKling  r\vv\  precaution  is  taken,  the  animals  find 
some  way  to  escape.  \o  sooner  is  their  ancient  domicil  disturbed,  than 
they  issui-  Ibrlh  from  their  holes  under  the  water,  to  seek  some  sall-r  re- 
treat along  the  banks  of  the  main-lar  I;  one  after  anotla-r  is  seen,  alter- 
nately rising  and  diving,  and  making  for  the  shore.     ]f  it  is  ascertained 


MUSK-RAT. 


117 


that  it  is  not  possible  to  prevent  their  escape,  the  hunters  resolve  to  drive 
them  all  from  the  little  islet.     A  hole  is  dug  in  the  centre  of  the  place, 
and  the  dog  encouraged  to  go  in;  the  few  remaining  Musk-llats,  at  this 
last  and  worst  alarm,  scamper  out  of  the  burrows  wiili  all  haste,  and  the 
island  is  left  in  possession  of  the  allied  forces.     All  this  time  the  hunters 
have  been  shar])ly  looking  out  to  observe  to  what  spot  the  greatest  num- 
ber of  Musk-Kats  have  retired.     They  have  marked  the  places  in  front  of 
which  Ihey  were  seen  to  dive,  well  knowing  that  they  are  closely  con- 
cealed in  some  of  the  holes  along  the  bank.     The  animals  have  now  re- 
treated far  up  into  their  burrows,  and  are  not  very  apt  to  make  lor  the  wa- 
ter.    The  ground  is  struck  with  a  stick  in  different  places,  and  where  a 
hollow  sound  is  heard,  the  hunters  know  there  is  an  excavation,  and  at 
once  dig  down  to  it.     In  th:    way  several  holes  are  found,  and  are  suc- 
cessively stopped  to  prevent  the  ivlurn  of  the  i\Iusk-Rats  to  the  water 
The  digging  is  then  continued  till  the  biuiters  reach  the  nest,  which  be- 
ing laid  open,  is  entered  by  the  dog,  in  order  that  the  sagacious  animal 
may  ascertain  the  galh-ry  into  which  the  Musk-Rats  have  retired,  as  a 
last  resort.     The  digging  is  seldom  fatiguing,  as  the  holes  run  very'  near 
the  surface.     A  net  to  catch  them  is  now  placed  at  the  hole,  or  in  "lieu  ol 
It,  a  man  stands  with  a  spear  touching  the  mouth  of  it,  placing  his  foot  im- 
mediately  behind  the  spear.     As  the  Rat  attempts  to  rush  out,  the  weapon 
IS  driven  into  its  neck.     Thus  these  animals  are  killed  one  after  another 
until  the  whole  colony  is  destroyed;  sometimes  tlu'v  are  knocked  on  the 
h.'ad  with  a  club,  instead  of  being  spean>d.     In  some  places  we  have  seen 
more  than  a  dozen  killed  in  one  hole,  and  we  have  known  upwards  of 
frtty  to  be  taken  m  this  manner  in  a  single  day. 

When  the  Musk-Uats  have  gone  to  their  winter  huts  among  the  marsh- 
es there  IS  another  way  of  procuring  them.     The  party  go  to  the  marshes 
when  the  ice  is  sullicie-itly  strong  to  support  a  man.     Thev  proceed  cmu- 
t.ously  to  their  nests  (the  manner  of  building  whi.  h  we  hare  alreadv  de- 
scribed,) where  the  I{ats  are  snugly  enseonsed  in  their  warm  beds,  withia 
seven  or  eight  inches  of  the  top.     A  spear  with  lour  pron^rs,  ,bout  as  lon-^ 
ns  those  of  a  pitch-fork,  is  used  upon  the  occasion.     One  of  the  men  strikes 
th.  spear  into  the  nest  with  all  the  force  he  is  capable  of  exerting,  and 
'I  !"■  un,lc.rs,.„ds  his  business  and  knows  where  to  strike,  he  is  almost 
sure  to  ,>m  one,  if  no,  two  or  thr,-e,  of  the  animals  to  the  earth  with  one 
Mow.     Another  hunter  .lands  by  with  an  axe  to  demolish  the  little  umd 
habitation,  and  aid  in  securing  the  Musk-Rats  which  have  been  speared 
-y  h.s  ..ompanion.     1,  often  occurs  that  the  water  under  the  ice  is  shal- 
low and  the  nv  transparent,  in  which  case  the  animals  may  be  seen  mak- 
ng  their  way  through  the  water,  almost  tom-hinL'  the  ice,  :,e.d  we  have 


118 


MUSK-RAT. 


rii;(|ueiitly  seen  them  stunned  by  a  blow  with  the  axe  on  the  ice  above 
th(nii,  (in  the  manner  in  wiiich  pike  and  other  fish  are  sometimes  killed 
in  our  rivere  wlien  they  arc  frozen  over;)  a  hole  is  then  cut  in  the  ice,  and 
they  arc  secured  without  diiliculty.  The  houses  of  the  j\Iusk-Rats  which 
have  been  broken  up  by  the  hunters  are  soon  restored,  the  repairs  coni- 
•ncnce  the  following  night,  and  are  usu;dly  completed  by  morning! 

In  regard  to  the  food  of  the  Musk-llat,  our  experience  induces  us  to  be- 
lieve, that  like  its  congener,  the  house-rat,  it  is  omnivorous.  In  1813,  we 
obtained  two  of  this  species  when  very  young  for  the  purpose  of  domesti- 
cating them,  in  order  tliat  we  might  study  their  habits.  They  became  so 
perfectly  gentle  that  they  came  at  our  call,  and  were  frequently  carried 
to  an  artificial  fish-pond  near  the  house,  and  after  swimming  about  for 
an  hour  or  two,  they  would  go  into  their  cage,  which  was  left  lor  them  at 
the  water's  edge.  A  few  years  ago,  we  received  from  Lee  Allison,  Esq., 
residing  at  Aikin,  South  C;irolina,  one  of  this  species  in  a  box  lined  with 
tin.  We  have  thus  had  0]iportunities  of  ascertaining  tlie  kind  of  food  to 
which  they  gave  the  ])referenee.  AVe  would,  however,  remark,  that  tlio 
food  taken  by  an  aiiimiU  in  continement  is  no  positive  evidence  of  what 
it  would  prefer  Avhen  left  to  its  free  clioice  in  the  meadows,  the  brooks, 
and  the  tields  it  inhal)its  in  a  state  of  nature.  Their  food  in  sunuiior 
consistri  cliietly  of  grassci^,  roots,  and  vegetaldes.  We  liave  often  watclicd 
them  early  in  the  morning,  eating  the  young  grass  of  the  meadows  ;  they 
Boomed  very  fo:id.  especially  of  the  timothy,  {Phhum  j)Mf<n»\)  and  red- 
top,  (vl_r//vw//,v,)'adeed,  the  few  bunches  of  clover  and  other  kinds  of  grass 
remaining  in  tlieir  vicinity  gave  evidence  that  tlie  Musk-Rats  had  been 
at  work  upon  tliem.  Tlie  injury  sustained  l)y  the  farmer  from  these  ani- 
nuUs,  however,  is  by  tlie  destruction  of  liis  enibaiikuients  and  the  excava- 
tions through  his  meadows,  made  in  constructing  tlicir  galleries,  rather 
than  from  the  loss  of  any  quantity  of  grass  or  vegetables  they  may  destroy ; 
although  their  de])redations  are  sometimes  carried  on  to  the  great  injury 
of  vegetable  gardens. 

An  aequaintanct  who  ii.id  a  garden  in  the  neighbourhood  of  a  meadow 
which  contained  a  huge  number  of  Musk-Uats,  sent  one  day  to  inquire 
wlictlicr  we  could  aid  hi  discovering  the  robbers  who  carried  off  almost 
every  night  a  (|iiantity  of  lurnips.  We  were  surprised  to  find  on  exannn- 
ing  the  premises,  that  the  garden  h;i(l  been  plundered  and  nearly  ruined  by 
these  Hats.  There  wen"  paths  extending  from  the  imiddy  baidis  of  the 
stream,  winding  among  the  raidv  weeds  and  grasses,  passing  through  the 
old  worm  I'ence,  and  leading  to  the  various  beds  of  vegetables.  Many  of 
the  turnips  had  disappeared  on  the  previous  lught — the  duck-lik«i  tracks 
of  the  Musk-rats  were  seen  on  the  beds  in  every  direction.     The  jniths 


MUSK-RAT. 


11& 


were  strewn  with  turnip  leaves,  which  either  had  dropped,  or  were  bitten 
off  to  render  the  transportation  more  convenient.     Their  paths  after  en- 
ternig  the  meadow  diverged  to  several  burrows,  all  of  which  -ave  evi, 
dence  that  their  tenants  had  been  on  a  foraging  expedition  on  the  pre- 
vious  night.     The  most  convenient  burrow  was  opened,  and  we  discovered 
in  the  nest  so  many  ditlerent  articles  of  food,  that  we  were  for  some  tune 
.nider  an  impression  that  like  the  chipping  squirrel,  chickaree,  &c.,  this 
species  laid  up  m  autumn  a  store  of  food   for  winter  use.     There  were 
carrots  and  parsnips  which  appeared  to  have  been  cut  into  halves,  the 
lower  part  of  the  root  having  been  left  in  the  ground;  but  what  struck  us 
as  most  smgular  was  that  ears  of  corn  (maize)  not  yet  quite  ripe,  had  been 
dragged  mto  the  burrow  with  a  considerable  portion  of  the  stalk  attached. 
Ihc  corn-stalks  then  standing  in  the  garden  were  so  tall  that  the  ears 
could  not  be  reached  by  the  Musk-Rats,  and  on  examining  the  beds  from 
which  they  had  probably  some  days  previously  taken  the  corn  we  found 
m  the  burrow,  we  ascertained  that  the  stalks  had  been  gnawed  off  at 
the  roots. 

Professor  Lee,  who  resides  at  Buncomb,  North  Carolina,  lately  in- 
formed  us  that  for  several  summers  past  his  fields  of  Indian  corn,  which 
are  situated  near  a  stream  frequented  by  Musk-Rats,  have  been  -reatlv 
mjurod  by  their  carrying  off  whole  stalks  at  a  time,  every  night  for  some 
weeks  together.  The  above,  however,  are  the  only  instances  that  have 
come  to  our  knowledge  of  their  doing  any  injury  to  the  vegetable  garden 
<.r  to  the  corn-field,  although  this  may  probably  be  frequently  the  case 
where  the  fields  or  gardens  skirt  the  banks  of  water-courses. 

These  animals  walk  so  clumsily  that  they  seem  unwilling  'to  trust  them, 
selves  any  cUstunce  from  the  margin  of  the  stream  or  dam  on  which  they 
have  taken  up  their  residence.     We  have  supposed,  that  a  considerable 
portion  of  their  food  in  tl.c  Northern  States  in  some  localities,  was  the  root 
ol  the  common  arrow-head,  (.SV>/'"vV/,  .vr/;^/////J,/,V,,)  as  we  have  often  ob- 
seryed  it  had  been  gnawe.l  off,  and  have  found  bits  of  it  at  the  mouths  of 
then-  holes      AVo   have  also  se.m  stc.us  of  the  common  Indian  turnip. 
{Annn  tn,,h„Jhun.)   whi,.],  were  cut  off,  portions  of  whi.-h,  near  the  root 
<.|.|H".-.-ed  to  have  been  eaten.     They  also  feed  on  the  spice  wood,  (Luu. 
rns  hnnon,.)      ItiraAunsux  says,  "they  feed  in  the  Northern  districts  on 
>t'f'  roots  and  t,.nd,.r  shoots  of  the  bulrush  and   reed-.na,-e,  and  on    he 
leaves  ol  varmus  eariees  and  a,|uatie  grasses."     PKxxAvr  savs  "ihev  -ire 
very  fond  of  the  Ann-ns  rrrus.  „r  Vahm„s  aronuUicns ^  and  Kalm  s|V.^ks 
••I  Mppl.'s  bemg  plaod  in  traps  as  a,  bnit  for  tlu-ni.     NeaHv  all  our  uriters 
.'..   naturaUnstory  are  ..orrect  in  saying  that  fresh  wat^r  mussHs  com- 


pose a  poll  ion  of  their  food.     S 


,,.H,.-Mnu.s  --rv,.r;,!  bushels  of  sheli> 


hiav  ijt- 


I 


120 


MUSK-RAT 


!()und  ill  a  small  space  near  their  nests.  Our  young  friend,  Si-encer  F. 
Ijaiui),  Esq.,  assures  us  tiiat  in  the  neighhourliood  of  Carlisle  Pennsylva- 
nia, on  the  Conodogiiinet  cre(;k,  he  has  often  observed  large  quantities  of 
shells,  most  ol'  which  were  so  adroitly  opened  by  these  animals  as  not  to 
be  at  all  broken,  and  would  have  made  very  good  specimens  lor  the  con- 
cliologist.  He  has  seen  the  Musk-Ra.t  eating  a  mussel  occasionally  on  a 
h)g  in  the  watei",  holding  the  shell  between  i's  fore-paws,  as  a  squirrel 
holds  a  nut. 

We  once  placed  a  quantity  ol'  mussels  in  a  cage,  to  feed  some  Musk 
Rats  we  had  domesticated  in  the  North;  they  carried  them  one  by  ono 
info  an  inner  compartment,  where  they  were  hidden  from  view.  Here  we 
heard  them  gnawing  at  the  shells;  we  then  removed  a  slide  in  the  cage, 
which  enabled  us  to  see  them  at  work ;  they  were  seated,  sometimes  up- 
right like  a  squirrel,  at  other  times  like  a  rat,  with  the  shell-fish  lying  on 
the  floor,  holding  on  to  it  by  their  fore-paws,  and  bn^aking  it  open  with 
their  lower  incisors.  In  Carolina,  we  obtained  for  the  same  purpose,  al- 
though for  a  dili'erent  family  of  Musk-Rats,  a  quantity  of  mussels  of  the 
species  Unio  angii.s/dtiis  and  Anodon  cataracta;  some  of  these  were  too 
hard  to  be  !,nmediately  opened  by  the  animals  with  their  teeth.  They 
were  carried  by  the  Musk-Rats,  as  usual,  into  a  separate  and  darkened 
portion  of  the  cage.  W«^  heard  an  occasional  gnawing,  but  three  days 
afterwards  many  of  the  harder  species  of  shell  still  remained  unopened. 
We  did  not  again  examine  the  cage  till  after  the  expiration  of  ten  days, 
\vhen  the  shells  were  all  empty.  They  had  probably  opened  in  conse- 
■ijueiiee  of  the  death  of  the  animal  within,  when  their  contents  were  eaten 
Dy  the  Rats.  Oysters  were  j)lace(l  in  the  cage,  which  on  account  of  their 
saltness  we  believed  would  not  be  relished;  but  a  week  afterwards  the 
shells  only  were  left.  We  procxu'cd  a  pint  of  a  small  species  of  imported 
snail,  {Btilinius  (Jccollatus,  (J.mki,.,  iniililiilits,  Sav,)  that  has  become  very  de- 
structive ill  many  of  the  gardens  of  Charleston,  and  the  Musk-Rats  im- 
mediately began  to  crush  them  with  their  teeth,  and-  in  a  few  days  no- 
thing but  the  broken  shells  remained.  We  have  therefore  come  to  the 
conclusion  that  whilst  vegetables  arc  the  general  food  of  this  species,  va- 
rious kinds  of  shcll-lish  form  no  inconsiderable  portion  of  if.  Our  Musk- 
Rats  refused  lish,  but  were,  like  most  ."inimals  in  coiilinemeiit,  fond  of  bread. 
Till  y  were  generally  fed  on  sweet  ])ofatoes,  parsnips,  cabbage,  and  ce- 
lery;  the  swe<'t  ling,  (Acorns  cdhnii us,)  they  rt>jected  altogether. 

Although  the  ]\liisk-Rat  walks  awkwardly,  luid  proceeds  so  slowly 
that  it  can  scarcely  be  said  to  run,  it  swims  and  di  'cs  well.  We  regard 
it  as  a  better  swiiiiiuer  than  the  mink,  and  from  its  promptness  in  diving 
lit  ihr  lla>h  of  the  uiiii,  i!    iVeiiiu'iitly  esenpt's  fioiii  ils  pursuers.     It  may 


MUSK-RAT. 


121 


however,  be  easily  drowned.    We  once  observed  several  of  them  which  had 
been  driven  from  their  holes,  after  struggling  under  the  ice  for  about  fifteen 
minutes  rising  to  the  surface;  and  on  taking  them  out,  by  cutting  holes  in 
he  ice,  they  were  found  to  be  quite  dead.     Richar.so.  speaks  of  "their 
being  subject  at  uncertain  intervals  to  a  great  mortality  from  some  un- 
known  cause."    We  have  no  doubt  that  in  very  cold  winters  when  the 
ice  reaches  to  the  bottom  of  the  ponds,  and  they  are  confined  to  their  holes 
they  devour  each  other,  since  we  have  seen  many  burrows  opened  in 
autumn,  and  except  in  the  instances  we  have  already  mentioned,  we 
found  no  provision  laid  up  for  winter  use.     When  a  Musk-Ilat  has  been 
caught  by  one  foot  in  a  trap  set  on  the  land,  it  is  frequently  found  torn 
to  pieces  and  partially  devoured;  and  from  the  tracks  around  one  might 
be  induced  to  believe,  that,  as  is  the  case  with  porpoises  and  many  other 
animals,  when  one  is  wounded  and  cannot  escape  its  companions  turn 
upon  and  devour  it.      When  one  is   shot  and  dies   in  the  water  it  is 
very  soon  carried  off  by  the  living  ones,  if  there  are  any  in  the  vicinity 
at  the   time,   and   is   dragged   into  one   of  their   holes   or   nests       We 
have  frequently  ibund  carcasses  of  these  animals  thus  concealed,  but  in 
these  cases  the  flesh  had  not  been  devoured.     This  singular  habit  reminds 
us  of  the  Indians,  who  always  carry  their  dead  off  the  field  of  battle  when 
they  can,  and  endeavour  to  prevent  their  bodies  falling  into  the  hands  of 
their  enemies. 

After  a  severe  winter  on  a  sudden  rise  in  the  water  before  the  break- 
ing  up  of  the  ice,  hundreds  of  Musk-Rats  are  drowned  in  their  hole, 
.'specially    where   there   are   no   high   shelving   banks   to   enable   them' 
to    .'xtond    th,>ir    galleries    beyond    the    reach    of   the    rising    wafer. 
During   these   occasional   freshets  in  early  spring,   the  Musk-Rats  that' 
escape   drowning   are  driven   from  their   holes,   and   swim   about   from 
sliore  to  shore   without   shelter   and   without   food,  and  may  be  easily 
.h-sfrcyed.     We  r.Mnember  that  two  hunters  with  their  guns,  coursing 
u|.  and  down  opposite  sides  of  a  pond  on  one  of  these  occasions,  made 
sucli  iearJul  havoc  among  these  animals  that  for  several  years  afterwards 
we  scarcely  observed  any  traces  of  them  in  that  locality.     Many  rapa- 
cious birds  as  well  as  quadrupeds  seize  and  devour  the  Musk-Rat.    When 
It  makes  its  appearance  on  land,  the  fox  and  the  Ivnx  capture  it  with 
great  ease.      One  of  our  young  friends  at  Dennisville  in  the  State  of 
Maine,  informed  us  that  his  greatest  difficulty  in  procuring  this  speci<-«  in 
traps  arose  from  their  being  eaten  after  they  were  caught,  by  the  snowy 
owl  an,l  otber  birds  of  prey,  which  would  frequently  sit  and  watch  the 
traps,  as  it  were  keeping  guard  over  them,  until  the  poor  Musquash 
u:is  m  lb,    tods,  on    se,.ing  which   they  d,.sce.ule<l   and  made  a  l.eartv 


122 


ML'SK-UAT. 


meal  at,  the  trapper's  expense,  taking?  pood  care  mcamvliile  lui!,  In  exposti 
themselves  to  his  venfj;eaiUM',  by  keej)iii;i;  a  sharp  look  out  I'or  liiiii  in  every 
direction.  Our  friend,  however,  got  the  betlei  ol'  lliese  wary  thieves  bv 
occasionally  baiting  his  traps  with  meat  instead  ol"  ajjples  or  vegetables, 
by  which  means  ho  often  caught  an  owl  or  a  hawk,  inslt!ad  of  a  Musk- 
Rat.  Altiiough  this  species  has  such  a  long  list  of  enemies,  it  is  so  pro- 
lific that,  like  the  common  rat,  {Mas  tkciimanus,)  it  •onlinues  to  increase 
and  multiply  in  many  parts  of  the  country,  notwithstanding  their  activity 
and  voracity. 

The  Musk-Rat  has  occasionally  been  known  to  leave  its  haunts  along 
the  streams  and  ponds,  and  is  sometimes  found  travelling  on  elevated 
grounds.  We  were  informed  by  our  friend  Mr.  Baihd,  tliat  one  was  caught 
in  a  house  near  Reading,  in  I'ennsylvania,  three-quarters  of  a  mile  from 
the  water;  and  the  late  Dr.  Wricht  of  Troy  once  discovered  one  making 
its  way  through  the  snow,  on  the  to])  of  a  iiiil  near  that  city. 

The  number  of  joung  produced  at  a  litter  varies  from  three  to  six. 
|{u'nARnso\  states  t'l.-t  they  sometimes  have  seven,  which  is  by  no  means 
improbable.     They  usually  have  three  litters  in  a  season. 

Although  the  Musk-Rat  does  not  seem  to  possess  any  extraordinary 
instincts  by  which  to  .avoid  or  baflle  its  pursuers,  we  were  witnesses 
of  its  sensibility  of  approaching  danger  arising  from  a  natiu'al  cause, 
manifested  in  a  way  we  think  deserving  of  being  recorded.  It  is  a 
well-known  fact,  that  many  species  of  quadrupeds  and  liirds  are  endowed 
by  Nature  with  the  faculty  of  foreseiMug  or  foreknowing  the  changes  ol 
the  seasons,  and  have  premonitions  of  the  coming  storm.  The  swallow 
commences  its  long  aerial  voyage  even  in  sunniier,  in  anticipation  of 
the  cold.  The  sea-birds  become  excessively  restless:  some  seek  the 
protection  of  the  land,  and  others,  like  the  loon,  {Coli/inhiis  glacialis,) 
make  the  shores  re-echo  with  their  hoarse  and  clamorous  screams,  pre- 
vious to  excessively  cold  weather;  the  swine  also  are  seen  carry- 
ing straw  in  their  mouths  and  enlarging  their  beds.  After  an  unusual 
drought,  succeeded  by  ii  warm  Indian-sunnner,  as  we  were  oiu;  day 
passing  near  a  mill-pond  inhabited  by  some  families  of  Musk-Ra!s,  we 
observed  numbers  of  them  swinuning  about  in  every  direction,  carry- 
ing mouthfuls  of  withered  grasses,  and  building  their  huts  higher  or, 
the  land  than  any  we  had  seen  before.  We  had  scarcely  ever  ob- 
^erved  them  in  this  loealily  in  the  middle  of  llic  day.  and  then  only  lor  a 
moment  as  they  swam  from  one  side  of  the  pond  to  the  oliirr;  but  now 
they  se(>med  bent  on  preparing  for  some  approacdiing  eveul,  Jind  the  suc- 
cessive reports  of  se^■('ral  guns  lired  by  some  hunlers  only  i)roduced  a 
Dause  in  their  operations  for  live  or  It  n  minutes,     .\llhough  the  day  was 


MUSK-R.VT. 


123 


bright  and  fair,  on  that  very  night  there  fell  torrents  of  rain  succeeded  bv 
an  unusual  freshet  and  intensely  cold  w.-ather. 

This  species  has  a  strong  musky  smell;  to  us  this  has  never  appeared 
particuhuly  offensive.  It  is  i„(ini,  ly  less  unpleasant  than  that  of  the 
skunk,  and  we  are  less  annoyed  by  it  than  by  the  smell  of  the  mink,  or 
even  the  red  fox.  We  have,  howe\  er,  observed  in  passing  some  of  the 
linunts  of  this  Hat  at  particular  periods  during  summer,  that  the  whole 
locality  was  strongly  pervaded  by  ihis  odour. 

Tt  is  sairl,  notwithstanding  this  peculiarity,  that  the  Musk-Rat  is  not  an 
unpalatable  article  of  food,  the  musky  smell  not  being  perceptible  when 
the  annual  h;.  been  properly  prepared  and  cooked  ;  we  have,  indeed,  heard 
.t  stated  that  Musk-Rat  suppers  are  not  unfrequent  among  a  certain  class 
ol  uihabitants  ,m  fl- Eastern  shore  of  Maryland,  and  that  some  persons 
prefer  them,  when  well  dressed,  to  a  wild  duck.  Like  the  flesh  of  the  bear 
and  some  oth.  (luadrupculs,  their  meat  somewhat  resembles  fresh  pork 
and  IS  too  rich  to  be  eaten  with  much  relish  for  any  length  of  time. 

By  what  we  may  aim..- '  look  ut  as  a  merciful  interposition  of  Providence 
the  Musk-F{at  is  not  found  on  the  rice  plantations  of  Carolina;  it  approach- 
es wilhni  a  few  miles  of  fhern,  and  then  ceases  to  be  found.  If  it  existed 
n.  the  banl-s  and  dykes  of  the  rice  fields,  it  would  be  a  terrible  annoyance 
to  the  planter,  and  possibly  destroy  the  reservoirs  on  which  his  crops 
depend.  Although  ii  reaches  nmch  farther  South,  and  even  extends  to 
Louisiana,  it  is  never  found  on  the  alluvial  lands  widun  seventy  miles  of 
the  sea,  either  in  Carolina  or  Georgia. 

The  skins  of  the  Musk-Rat  are  no  longer  in  such  high  repute  as  they 
en,,oye<l  (larty-five  year^  .go,  and  they  are  now  only  worth  from  six  anil 
a  quarter  to  twenty-five  cents  each. 

Dr.  Richardson  states,  (in  1821,)  that  between  four  and  five  thousand 
skms  were  animal  ly  imported  into  Great  Britain  from  North  America. 


M 


GEOGRAPinOAL    DISTRIBUTION. 

The  Musk-Rat  is  found  as  far  North  as  the  mouth  of  the  Mackenzie 
nver,  in  latitude  0!)°,  on  the  Rocky  mountains,  on  the  Columbia  river,  and 
..n  the  Missouri.  With  the  exception  of  the  alluvial  lands  in  Carolina 
t.eorgia.  Alabama,  and  Florida,  it  abounds  in  all  parts  of  the  United  States' 
north  of  latitude  .10°.  It  exists,  although  not  abundantly,  in  the  mountains 
of  Georgia,  and  the  higher  portions  of  Alabama.  In  South  Carolina  we 
have  obtained  it  from  Aikin,  and  St.  Matthew's  parish,  on  the  Congaree 
mer,  but  have  never  found  traces  of  it  nearer  the  sea  than  seventy  miles 
from  Charleston. 


124 


MUSK-RAT. 


GENERAL    RUMARKB. 

The  Musk-Rat,  although  the  only  species  in  the  genus,  was  moved 
about  among  several  genera  before  it  ibund  a  resting  place  under  its 
present  name.  Sciirerer  placed  it  under  Mus.  Gmelin,  and  F.  Cuvier  de- 
scribed it  as  a  LEMMUf.  LiNNii;us  and  Erxleren  arranged  it  with  the 
beaver,  and  referred  it  to  the  genus  Castor.  Lesson,  Lacepkde  and  Cu- 
vier, under  Ondatra.  In  1811,  Illiger  proposed  changing  its  specific  intc 
a  generic  name.  As  Linna:us  had  called  it  Castor  Fiber,  he  tiion  esta- 
blished for  it  the  genus  Fiber. 


125 


SCIURUS     HUDSONIUS.^PENMAfrr 

Hudson's  Ba^   Suuirhel.— Chickakeb.— Red-Squirrsl. 
PLATE  XIV.-Male  and  Fbmalb. 

S.  Cauda  corpore  brcviore,  auriculis  apice  sub-barbatis ;  corporc  supra 
subrulo,  subtus  albo ;  S.  migratorii  tertia  parte  minoro. 

CHARACTERS, 

A  third  mailer  than  the  Northern  Gray-Squirrel,  (Sc.  migratorius ;)  tail 
shorter  than  the  body;  ears,  slightly  tufted;  colour,  reddish  above,  white  le. 
neath. 


8YNONYMES. 

EccBKuiL  Common,  on  Aroupbn,  Sagard  Theodat,  Canada,  p.  743 
Common  Squirukl,  Forster,  Phil.  Trans.,  vol.  Ixii.,  p.  378,  177" 
Moiuiius  Vulgaris,  var.  E.  Erxleben,  Syst.,  An.  1777. 
SciuRus  HuDsoNicus,  Pallas,  Glir.,  p.  377. 

SciuRus  HuDsoNicus,  Gmel,  Linn., '.  1788. 

Hudson's  I3ay  Squiukkl,  Penn.  Arctic  Zool.,  vol.  i.,  p.  1 10. 
„      "      „  "       "        "    I^'st.  Quadrupeds,  vol.  ii.,  p.  147. 
Common  Squirrel,  Heames'  Journey,  p.  385. 
Red  Squirrel,  Warden's  Hist.  U.  S.,  vol.  i.,  p.  330. 
Ked  Bakkino  Squirrel,  Schoolcraft's  Journal,  p.  273 
SciuRus  HuDsoNious,  Sabuie,  Franklin's  Journey,  n  663 
(Jodman,  vol.  11.,  p.  138. 
"      Fischer,  Mam.,  p.  349. 
EoiTREciLDE  LA  Baie  d'Hudson,  F.  Cuvier,  Hist.  Nat.  des  Mammifdree. 
S01URU8  HUDSONICUS,  Bach.  Trans.  Zool.  Soc,  London,  1839. 
IJekay,  Nat.  Hist.  New- York,  1842. 

DESCRIPTION. 

On  examining  the  teeth  of  this  species,  we  do  not  find  the  small  and 
usually  deciduous  molar  that  exists  in  all  the  other  species  of  Scurus 
with  vyhich  we  are  acquainted;  it  is  possible,  however,  that  it  may  be 
found  in  very  young  animals.  It  will  be  perceived,  on  referring  to  the 
dental  formula  of  the  genus,  (which  we  have  given  at  p.  38.)  that  the 


if- 


126 


HUDSON'S  BAY  SQUIRREL,  CHICKAREE,  ETC. 


molnrs  re  set  do-.vn  as  }-J  or  |-f ;  and  we  will  for  the  present  as- 
sign  thf  former  arrangentent  to  this  species.  Forehead,  very  slightly 
arrhed;  nose,  somewhat  obtuse;  eyes,  of  moderate  size;  ears,  broad, 
rounded,  clothed  on  bo ih -ides  with  short  hairs,  not  distinctly  'lifted  like 
those  of  the  European  Hciuirrci,  (Sc.  vulgaris,)  althou-,4i  the  haira,  when 
the  animal  has  its  winter  pelage,  project  beyond  the  margins,  and  resem- 
ble  tuits;  whiskers,  a  little  longer  than  thr  head;  the  body  presents  the 
appearance  of  lightness  and  agility;  ihe  tail  is  somewhat  depressed,  and 
linear,  not  as  bushy  as  in  most  other  squirrels,  but  capable  of  a  di^  ichous 
arrangement;  limbs,  robust;  claws,  compressed,  sharp,  slightly  li.uked; 
third  toe  a  little  the  longest;  palms,  and  under  surface  of  the  toes, 
naked;  soles  of  hind-feet,  clothed  with  hair,  except  on  the  tubercles  at 
the  roots  of  the  toes. 

COLOUR. 

This  species  exhibits  some  shades  of  difference  in  colour,  and  we  have 
sometimes,  although  very  rarely,  found  a  specimen  that  might  be  regard- 
ed as  a  variety.  General  colour,  deep  ?-eddish-brown  on  the  whole  of  the 
upper  surface;  short  fur  beneath,  '.hiinbeous,  mixed  with  so  large*,  a  quan- 
tity of  longer  hairs,  that  the  colour  of  the  fur  does  not  show  on  the 
surface.  These  long  hairs  are  dark  at  the  roots,  then  brown,  and  are 
slightly  tipped  with  black.  In  most  specimens  there  is  an  orange  hue  on 
the  outer  surface  of  the  fore-legs,  running  up  to  the  shoulder;  this  coloui 
is  also  frequently  visible  on  the  upper  surface  of  the  hind-feet,  and  be- 
hind  the  ears.  Whiskers,  black ;  tail,  on  the  upper  surface,  deep  roddish- 
brovra;  the  hair  on  the  sides  may  be  so  arranged  as  to  present  a  line  of 
black  near  the  outer  borders;  on  the  under  side  it  has  two  or  three  annu- 
lations  of  light-brown  and  black ;  lips,  chin,  throat,  inside  of  legs,  and 
belly,  white ;  in  some  specimens  the  hairs  on  these  parts  of  the  body  are 
plumbeous  at  the  roots,  and  white  to  th(>  tips,  giving  it  a  light,  grayish- 
white  appearance.  There  is  in  a  great  many  specimens  a  black  line, 
running  from  near  the  shoulders  along  the  sides  tc  within  an  inch  of  the 
thighs. 


DIMENSIONS. 

Recent  specimen. 

Length  from  nose  to  root  of  tail 
Tail  (vertebra') 
Tail  to  end  of  hair    - 


Inches.  Lines. 
8         0 
3         7 
6         5 


HUDSON'S  iJAY  SQUIKRKL,  CUICKAKHE,  ETC, 


127 


MABITfl. 


The  j,'eiui.s  SmuRcs  its  illustrated  in  North  Arnerica  by  a  greater  variety 
of  species  tliiiii  any  other  ai  ony^  tiie  variou  genera  wo  shall  Ir.vr  the 
plfusure  of  i.itrocliiciii),'  to  our  n.ulers:— Permit  us  to  dwell  for  .  mo- 
xuiMit  on  the  subjcer,  and  fii  r  ,,,■.•  tlie  followui'^r  anecdote: 

When  we  began  tlic  publication  in  GreJt  Britain,  of  the  "Birds  of  Aiuu- 
ricu,"  we  were  encouraged  by  the  appobafion  of  many  exeelleut  fri.mds, 
and  by  the  iuore  essential,  altiiougl;  less  artfelt  favours,  bestowed  by 
tiiose  n()r: men  and  gentlemen  who  kindlv  subscribed  to  the  work,  and 
without  whose  aid.  it  is  frankly  acknowledged,  it  could  never  have  been 
completed.  Among  those  whom  we  then  had  the  honour  of  calling  pa- 
trons, we  found  as  many  \arietics  of  character  as  among  the  beautiful 
feathered  inhabitants  of  our  woods,  l,,kes,  and  soa-shores,  them.telves; 
and  had  w<  time  Just  now  to  si)are,  we  might  i  idertake  to  describe 
soMM  of  th( m.  We  published  as  the  first  plat.;  ot  the  first  number  ot 
"The  Birds  of  .  -nerica,"  the  Wild  Turke\  Cock,  and  gave  the  Turkc^y 
lien  and  Young,  as  the  first  ph'te  of  the  second  number.  We 
need  not  stop  to  enmnci  ite  the  <>  species  of  birds  that  completed 

the  two  numbers;  but  judge  of  our  surprise,  on  bein-  told  gravely, 
by  a  certain  noble  subscriber,  that,  "as  the  work  was  to  con- 
sist of  Tiirli(i/s  (>u\\.  he  begged  to  be  allowed  to  discontinue  his 
subscription  !" 

Now,  kind  n  .idcr.  we  are  obliged  to  follow  Nature  in  the  works  of  in- 
linitt!  \  isdoMi,  which  we  humbly  attempt  to  portray;  and  although  yon 
should  lind  that  more  Squirrels  inhabit  our  forests  than  you  expected  or 
desired  to  be  figured  in  this  work,  we  assure  you  it  would  give  us  pie,  ^ure 
to  discover  a  new  sp.-cies  at  any  time'  We  are  not,  however,  wii  in" 
in  a  due  knowledge  of  the  sympathy  an  i  kindness  that  exist  among  our 
patrons  toward  us,  and  we  hope  you  wit  fini'  hi-  really  beautiful  genus 
as  interesting  as  any  other  among  the  quadrupeds  we  desire  to  place  be- 
fore you. 

'''he  Chickaree,  or  Hudson"-;  B.i'  Squirrel,  is  the  mo.st  coninion  pecies 
of  ihis  iuupcrous  genus  around  A  w-V'ork  and  throughout  the  lia>t<  rn 
States.  I  a  graett'ul,  lively  animal,  and  were  yon  to  walk  with  us 
through  the  woods  in  tiie  neighbourhood  of  our  great  com;  ■ciul  me- 
tropolis, where  boys  and  sportsmen  ^')  for  years  past  have  bee  hunting 
in  ev<'ry  direction,  and  killing  all  the  gnme  left  in  the  vicinity:  where 
woodeo(l>  are  shot  before  the  first  of  July,  and  quails  (Virginian  par- 
tridges) when  they  are  half-grown,  in  defiance  of  the  laws  for  their  pre- 
servation,  win      ould  l)e  ulad  to  find  the  eomparafive  silence  which  now 


138 


HUDSON'S  HAY  SQI'lIUtKI,,  (MIICKAHKE,  ETC. 


reigns  amid  the  trees,  interrupted  by  the  spri^ylitly  queruhms  cry  of  tiia 
Chickaree,  and  would  pnuse  witii  us  to  lool<  at  liiin  as  he  runs  nhmg  tlio 
rocky  surface  of  the  j^rouiui,  or  niuihly  ascends  some  tree;  for  in  thcHO 
woods,  once  no  doubt  aboiuidin-j;  in  both  beasts  and  birds,  it  is  now  a  hard 
task  to  start  anytliing  larf,'er  tlian  a  robin,  or  a  lligh-lioir,  {Picas  aurnUis.) 
Tile  lludon's  iJay  S(iuirrel  is  fearless  and  heedless,  to  a  ^reat  degree,  ot 
the  pi'csi'ncc  of  man ;  we  have  had  one  occasionally  pass  through  our 
yard,  somelimes  ascending  an  oak  or  a  clicsnut,  and  proceeding  leisurely 
tlu'ough  our  small  woody  lawn.  These  little  animals  are  generally  found 
singly,  although  it  is  not  unconunon  for  many  to  occupy  tlie  same  piece 
of  wood-land,  if  of  any  extent.  In  their  (juick  graceful  motions  from 
branch  to  branch,  they  almost  remind  one  of  ji  bird,  and  tliey  are 
always  neat  and  cleanly  in  tlioir  coats,  industrious,  and  wtdl  provided 
for  the  cold  of  winter. 

In  parts  of  tlie  country,  the  Chickaree  is  fond  of  approaching  the  farm- 
er's store-houses  of  grain,  or  other  products  of  the  fields,  and  occasion- 
ally il  ventures  even  so  far  as  to  make  a  nest  for  itself  in  some  of  Irs  out- 
buildings, and  is  not  dislodged  from  such  snug  quarters  without  undergo- 
ing a  good  deal  of  persecution. 

OiK!  of  these  S(|uirrels  made  its  nest  between  the  beams  and  the  rafters 
of  a  house  of  the  kind  we  havt^  just  spoken  of,  and  linding  the  skin  of  a 
j)eacock  in  the  loft,  appropriated  the  feathers  to  compose  its  nest,  and 
although  it  was  d(>stroyed  several  times,  to  test  tlie  perseverance  of  the 
animal,  it  persisted  in  re-constructing  it.  The  Chickaree  obtained  this 
name  from  its  noisy  chatt(;ring  note,  aud  like  most  other  Scpurrels,  is  fond 
of  repealing  its  cries  at  fre(|uent  mtervals.  Many  of  tlu;  inhabitants  ot 
our  Eastern  States  refuse  to  eat  Sciuirrels  of  any  kind,  from  somi!  preju- 
dice or  other;  but  we  can  assure  our  readers  that  the  flesh  of  this  species, 
nnd  many  others,  is  both  tender  and  well-flavoured,  and  when  nicely  broil- 
ed, does  not  require  a  hunter's  tippetite  to  recommend  it. 

Th(>  hr.bits  of  this  little  Scpiirrel  are,  in  several  particulars,  peculiar; 
whilst  the  larger  Gray  Scpiirrels  derive  their  sustenance  from  buds  and 
nuts,  chie'iy  inhabit  warm  or  temperate  climates,  and  are  constitution- 
ally fictt :'  to  subsist  during  w  liter  on  a  small  quantity  of  food,  tlie  Chick 
aree  exhibits  the  greatest  s|)rightliness  aud  activity  amidst  the  snow., 
and  frosts  of  our  Northern  redons,  and  consequently  is  obliged,  dur 
ing  the  Avinter  season,  to  consume  as  great  a  quantity  of  food  as  at  any 
other.  Nature  has,  therefore,  instructcfl  it  to  make  provision  in  the  sea- 
son of  abundance  for  the  long  winter  that  is  approaching;  and  the  quan- 
tity of  nuts  iuul  seeds  it  olU'ii  lays  up  in  its  store-house,  is  almost  incre- 
dible.    On  one  occasion  we  were  present   when  a  bushed  aud  a  half  of 


HUDSON'S  HAV  HtlUritRRL,  CinCKAriKF,,  ETC 


129 


slirll-bjirks  {Corijn  nll,„\  and  chpsinils,  w,-i-,.  taken  from  a  Ik.' low  tree  or. 
iM.pird  hy  a  NinRle  pair  of  tliese   indiistrroiis  creatures;   alll.ou^l.   Kene- 
rally  (lie  (juniililv  of  provision  laid  up  l.y  them  is  consideral.lv  ie!ss.     The 
(M.iekare(>  lias  i  .«  i,  „  -li  foresijrj.t  to  trust  to  a  winkle  hoard,"  and  it  often 
has  several,   in  rlifl.  ,..      localili.-s  a.iK.MK  the   Meii,'lil,ourinjr  trees    or  in 
burrows  dug  .      .,  ,a  H.e  .arlh.     ( )eeasio„ally  these  stores  are  found'  under 
loaves,  beneath  io«H    ,.  in  brnsli-lieaps;  at  other  times  they  are  deposited 
ie  holes  in  tlie  rr'-oud,  and  they  are  sometimes  only  temporarily  laid 
by  in  some  coiiv;  i.i-u.  situation  to  he  removed  at  leisure.     When,  for  in- 
stance,  nuts  are  abundant  in  the  autumn,  lar^e  <iuantilies  ia  the  fcreen 
state,  covered  by  their  thick  envelope,  are  colh-eted  in  a  heap  near  the  tree 
whence  they  linve  falhii ;  t!,ey  an.  then  eoven-d  up  with  leaves  until  the 
pericarp,  or  thick  outer  cv.-rin-   ..ilhcr  falls  o(f  or  ..pens,  when  the  Squir- 
rel  is  al.h-  to  carry  (.If  liie  nuts  more  <;onvenieMtly.      In  obtaining  shell 
barks,  butter-nuts,  {Jnglam  ciiwno,)  chesnuts,  ha/.el-nuls,  &c.,  this" Squir- 
rel ad..pls  the  mode  of  most  of  the  other  species.     It  advances  as  near  t . 
tiie  extremity  of  the  branch  as  it  <.an   with  safety,  and  gnaws  off  that 
p(.rtion  on  whicli  the  nuts  are  <lependcnl.     This  is  usually  done  early  in 
the  niorninfT,   and  the  noise   o.vasion.'d   by  th.;  fallinjr  of  large  bunches 
of  chesnut  burrs,  or  clust.-rs  of  butter-nuts,  liickory,  or  bcech-nuts,  thus 
detached  from  the  parent  stem,  may  be  heard  more  than  a  hundred  yards 
oir.     Some  of  tla;  stems  fittached  to  the  nuts  are  ten  inches  or  a  foot  in 
'.englh.     After  having  thrown  down  a  considiirfible  quantity,  the  Squir- 
rel descends  and  drags  them  into  a  heap,  as  slated  above. 

Sometimes  the  hogs  find  out  thtse  stores,  and  make  sad  havoc  in  the 
temporary  depot.     But  Providence  has  placed  much  food  of  a  different 
kind    within    reach  (.1'  the   Ked-Squirrcl    during    winter.      The  cones  of 
many  of  our  pines  and  firs  in  high  northern  latitudes  are  persistent  dur- 
ing winter;  and  the  Chickaree  can  be  supported  by  the  seeds  they  con- 
<ain,  even  should  liis  hoards  of  nuts  fail.     This  litth.  S,,uirre]  seems  also 
to  accommodate  itself  to  its  situation  in  another  respect.     In  Pennsvlva- 
nia  and  the   soutluTn   part  of  New-York,   where   th(>  winters  are  com- 
paratively mild,  it  is  very  commc.nly  satistied  with  a  hollow  tree  as  a 
winter  residence ;  but  in  the  latitude  of  Saratoga,  N.  Y.,  in  the  northern 
part  of  Massachusetts,  in  New  Hampshire,  Maine,  Canada,  and  farther 
north,  it  usually  seeks  for  addilionnl  protection  from  the  cold  by  formin.- 
deep  burrows  in  tlie  earth.     Nothing  is  more  common  than  to  meet  with 
five  or  six  Squirrel-holes  in  the  ground,  near  tlie  roots  of  some  white  pine 
or  hemlock;  and  these  retreats  can  be  easily  found  by  the  vast  heaps  of 
scales  fr(.m  the  cones  of  pines  and  firs,  which  are  in  process  of  time  accu- 
mulated around  them.     This  species  can  both  swim  and  dive      We  once 
17 


130 


HUDSON'S  BAY  SQUIRREL.  CHICKAREE,  ETC. 


observer!  some  lads  shaking  a  Red-Squirrel  from  a  sapling  that  grew  or 
the  edge  of  a  mill-pond.  It  fell  into  the  water  and  swam  to  the  oi)po. 
site  shore,  performing  the  operation  of  swimming  moderately  well,  and  re- 
minding  us  by  its  movements  of  the  meadow-mouse,  when  similarly 
occupied.     It  was  i"  by  its  untirihg  persecutors  on  the  opposite 

shore,  Avhere  on  1).  »d  with  sticks,  we  noticed  it  diving  two  or 

three  times,  not  in  tn.  ceful  curving  manner  of  the  mink,  or  musk-rat, 
but  with  short  and  iiioiFectual  plunges  of  a  foot  or  two  at  a  time. 

We  have  kept  the  Chickaree  in  cages,  but  found  it  less  gentle  and 
more  difficult  to  be  tamed  than  many  other  species  of  the  genus. 

Richardson  informs  us  that  in  the  fur  countries,  "the  Indian  boys  kill 
many  with  the  bow  and  arrow,  and  also  take  them  occasionally  with 
snares  set  round  the  trunks  of  the  trees  which  they  frequent."  We  have 
observed  that  during  winter  a  steel-trap  baited  with  an  ear  of  corn, 
(maize,)  placed  near  their  burrows  at  the  foot  of  large  pine  or  spruce 
trees,  will  secure  them  wilh  the  greatest  ease. 


■ 


OEOGRAPIilCAl,    DISTRIBUTION. 

The  limits  of  the  norlhern  range  of  this  species  are  not  precisely  deter- 
mined, but  all  travellers  who  have  braved  the  snows  of  our  Polar  regions, 
speak  of  its  existence  as  far  north  as  their  journeys  extended.     It  has  been 
observed  in  the  08th  or  fiOth  parallel  of  latitude ;  it  also  exists  in  Labra- 
dor,  Newfoundland   and    Canada.      It  is  the   most   common   spc  Ins  in 
New-England  and  New- York,  and  i^i  by  no  means  rare  in  Pennsylvania 
and  New  Jersey,  especially  in  the  hilly  or  mountainous  portions  of  the 
latter  State.     It  is  seen,  in  diminished  numbers,  in  the  mountains  of  Vir- 
ginia, although  in  ;he  alluvial  parts  of  that  State  it  is  scarcely  known;  as 
we  proceed  soutliv.Mrdly  it  becomes  more  rare,  but  still  continues  to  be 
met  with  on  tlie  highest  mountains.     The  most  southern  locality  to  which 
we  have  traced  it,  is  a  high  peak  called  the  Black  mountain,  in  Bun- 
combe   county,    N.    Carolina.      The    woods    growing    in    that    elevated 
situation  are  in  some  places  wholly  composed  of  balsam-fir  trees,  (Afiirs 
bahcniiro)  on  the  cones  of  which  these  Squirrels  feed.     There  this  litde 
animal  is  quite  common,  and  has  received  a,  new  English  name,  viz.,  that 
of,  "Mountain   boomer."     Toward  tlie  west  we  have   traced  it  to  the 
mountains  of  Tennessee ;  l)eyond  tli(>  Rocky  mountains,  it  does  not  exist. 
In  the  Russian  settlements  on  the  Western  coast,  it  is  replaced  hv  the 
Downy  Squirr(>l,  {Sc.  lanu^'nmsns.)     In  the  vicinity  of  the  Columbia,  and 
ibr  several   hundred  miles  .along  the  mountains  Soulh  of  (hat  river,  by 
U'ciiardbun's  Columbian  Squirrel ;  and  in  the  mountainous  regions  border 


HUDSOiN'S  BAY  SQUIKREL,  CHICKAREE,  ETC. 


131 


tng  on  CaliConiia,  by  another  small  species  much  resembUng  it,  which  we 
hope,  hereafter,  to  present  to  our  readers. 


GENERAL    REMAKKS. 

Althouo-h  this  species,  from  its  numbers  and  familiarity  as  well  as  fron: 
us  general  diffusion,  has  been  longer  known  than  any  other  of  our  Squir 
rels,  and  has  been  very  Irequently  described,  it  has,  with  iew  exceptions 
retained  its  name  of  Hiidsonius.  Ehxleben  supposed  it  to  be  only  a  variety 
of  the  conmion  Squirrel,  S.  vulgaris  of  Europe,  and  so  described  it.  The 
Sciurus  ILidsonius  of  Gmei.in  is  a  flying  Squirrel,  {Ptcmmys  s,,h-inus,)  and 
thi"  Carolina  Gray  Squirrel,  which  iii  Shaw's  General  Zoology,  vol.  ii., 
p.  141,  is  given  as  a  variety  of  Sciurus  Hndsonius,  is  our  own  species, 
(-SV;.  Carolincusis.)  This  species  was  unknown  to  Linn^us.  Pallap  ap 
pears  to  have  been  the  first  author  who  gave  the  specific  name  of  Hud- 
soniiis,  (sec  Pall.  Glir.,  p.  377,  a.  d.  1786,)  and  Gmelin,  in  1788,  adopted  his 
name. 

In  examining  the  form  and  inquiring  into  the  habits  of  this  species, 
we  cannot  but  observe  a  slight  approach  to  Tamias,  and  a  more  distant 
one  to  SpEKMoruiLus.  Its  ears  are  placed  farther  back  than  in  the  Squir- 
rels generally,  its  tail  is  oidy  sub-distichous,  and  withal  it  often  digs  its 
own  burrow,  and  lives  indiscriminately  in  the  ground  and  on  trees.  In 
;tl!  those  particulars  it  appears,  in  connexion  with  the  Downy  Squirrel, 
(.SV-.  /oiiiigimsiis;)  to  form  a  connecting  link  between  Sciurus'  and  Tamias. 
It  has,  however,  no  cheek  pouches,  and  does  not  carry  its  food  in  its 
cheeks  in  the  manner  of  the  Tami^  and  Spermophiu,  but  between  its 
front  teeth,  like  the  rest  of  the  squirrels. 


132 


GENUS  PTEllOMYS.— iLLiasa. 


DENTAL    FORMULA. 


2  K K 

Incisive  -;      Molar  —  =  22. 

8  4-4 


Dentition  similar  to  that  of  the  genus  Sciurus.  Head,  round ;  ears, 
round;  upper  lip,  divided;  eyes,  large;  fore-leet,  with  lour  elongated 
toes,  furnished  with  conipresspd,  sharp,  talons,  with  the  rudiment  of  a 
thumb  having  an  obtuse  nail ;  iiind-feet,  with  f've  long  toes,  much  divid- 
ed, and  litted  for  seizing  or  climbing ;  tail,  long,  villose  ;  skin  of  the  sides, 
extending  from  the  anterior  to  the  posterior  extremities,  forming  a  thin 
membrane,  by  the  aid  of  which,  when  extended,  the  animal  sails  through 
the  air  in  a  descending  curve  from  a  tree  or  any  elevated  point,  occasion- 
ally for  some  distance. 

The  generic  name,  pteromys,  is  (Ji»?ri^-ed  from  two  Greek  words,  "TTtf^,^ 
(pteron,)  a  wing,  and  fttn,  (mus,)  a  mouse. 

There  are  thirteen  well-determined  species  belonging  to  this  genus, 
l3ne  is  ibund  in  the  norlh  of  Europe,  lour  in  North  America,  and  the  re 
mainder  in  Asia  and  other  parts  of  the  old  world. 


PTEROMYS  O  R  E  G  O  N  E  N  S I S.— Baciimax 

Oreoox  Flvino  SciUrRREL. 

PLATE  XV.— Malk  and  Fbmalb. 

P.  magnitudine  infer  P.  voluceilam  et  1'  sabrinum  medius,  supra  fus- 
cus,  subfus  lutco-albus;  auribus  P.  sabrini  auricuiis  longioribus ;  vellere 
densiore,  membrana  volatica  largiore,  pedibus  grandioribus. 


eilAUACTERB. 

Intermcdidte  in  size  hctwccn  P.  volucilhi,  tniil  thr  Northern  sprcics,  P.  sn- 
hrltnis;  curs,  longer  tlinn  in  ifir  liiffcr,  rinil  fur  mnn  roiiipnct ;  lobe  of  the 
flying  viemhrnne  joining  the  fore-feet,  much  longer  if.  proportion,  mtihing 
'hat  mfmhrane  ttromlcr.  Foot  large,  .  gcnernl  colour  above,  brown :  be- 
neath, ifellonish-white. 


OREGON  FLYING  SQUIRREL. 

SYNONYME. 


133 


Pteromys  Oregonensis;   Oregon  Flying  Squirrel.  Bach.,  Jour.  Acad,  of  Nat 
Sciences,  Phil,  vol.  viii.,  pt.  i.,  p,  loi. 

DESCRIPTION. 

This  species  differs  from  P.  sabrinus,  in  several  very  striking  particu- 
lars;  the  arm  which  supports  the  flying  membrane  is  Hi  lines  in  length 
whilst  that  of  the  latter  is  only  9.  Thus  the  smaller  of  the  two  has  the' 
largest  flying  membrane. 

The  fur  of  P.  sabrinus  is  much  the  longest,  and  is  white,  whilst  that  of 
f.  Oregonensis  has  a  yellowish  tinge.  The  hairs  on  the  tail  of  the  for- 
mer are  only  slightly  tinged  with  lead-colour  at  the  roots,  whilst  in  the 
latter  that  colour  extends  outwardly,  (towards  the  tip.s,)  for  half  their 
length.  The  diff-crcnt  shape  of  the  ear,  it  being  longer  and  narrower  in 
our  present  species  than  in  P.  sabrinus,  is  a  sufficient  distinctive  charac- 
ter. / .  Oregonensis  differs  from  the  common  flying  squirrel  {P  voluccl- 
la)  so  entirely,  that  it  is  hardly  necessary  to  give  a  particular  comparison. 
Besides  being  much  larger  than  the  latter,  and  not  possessing  the  beauti- 
ul  downy-white  on  the  belly,  it  may  be  distinguished  from  P.  volucella 
by  the  hairs  on  that  species  being  white  to  the  roots,  which  is  not  the 
case  with  the  Oregonensis.     Whiskers,  numerous,  and  very  long. 

COLOUR. 

Fur,  deep  gray  at  the  base,  on  the  back  tipped  with  yellowish-brown  • 
lail,  pale-brown  above,  dusky  toward  the  extremity;  beneath,  brownish- 
white;  whiskers,  chiefly  black,  grayish  at  the  tips.  Hairs  covering  the 
#J-ing  membrane,  mostly  black,  slightly  tipped  with  pale-brown;  leet, 
luK.v;  ,tround  the  eyes,  blackish;  ears,  with  minute  adpressed  brown 
-lairs  externally,  and  browni.sh.-white  internally. 

DIMENSIONS. 


Lougih  from  point  of  nose  to  root  of  tail 
Tail,  to  point  of  fur        -         -         -        .        . 
Height  of  car  posteriorly        -         -         .         . 
Breadth  l«!twfen  the  outer  edges  of  the  flying 

membrane      ---... 
Longest  hind-toe,  including  nail      . 

"       ibrf'-toe,  "  «         ,  , 

»  «  «  s 

From  luel  to  |)oint  of  n.tj      -        .        .        . 
f'Voiii  nose  to  car  .         .         .         . 


Inches. 

Linea 

G 

8 

6 

0 

0 

7 

8 

0 

0 

H 

0 

H 

1 

«i 

1 

0 

134 


UIIKOON  FLYJNG  SQUIRREL. 


iiABira. 


The  linhits  of  this  hnndsome  Flying  Squirrel,  we  regret  to  say,  are  al- 
most  unkiiowii  to  us;  hut  Irom  its  goiioral  appearance,  it  is  undouhtedly  as 
active  and  volalile  as  our  common  lit.tl(>  species;  and  much  do  we  regret 
that  we  have  never  scmmi  it  launch  itself  into  the  air,  and  sail  from  the 
highest  branch  of  one  of  the  enormous  pines  of  the  valley  of  tht;  Columbia 
river,  to  some  other  tall  and  magniliceat  tree.  Indeed,  much  should  we 
like  to  know  ihe  many  woiks  of  the  Creator  that  yet  remain  to  be  dis- 
covered, examined,  figured,  and  described,  in  the  vast  mountain-valleys 
and  Ibrests  beyond  the  highest  peaks  of  the  great  Rocky  Chain, 

We  hope,  however,  to  obtain  a  good  deal  of  information  through  va- 
rious sources  ere  the  conclusion  of  this  work,  from  the  remote  portions 
of  our  Continent  that  have  not  yet  been  well  explored  by  naturalisis, 
and  we  shall  then  perhaps  be  able  to  say  something  more  in  regard  to 
the  subject  of  this  arlicle.  of  which  we  can  now  only  add,  that  Mr. 
TowN^r.M)  remarks,  that  it  inhabits  the  pine  woods  of  the  Columbia, 
near  the  sea,  and  has  the  habits  of  P.  volucdla. 


(lEOGRAPIIICAL    niSTRlBUTION. 


l>r.  Ric-iiAiti)so\  (Fauna  Boreali  Americana,  p.  195)  speaks  of  a  Flying 
8([uirrel  which  was  "discovered  by  Mr.  Duummond  on  the  Rocky  moun- 
tains, living  in  dense  pine-forests,  and  seldom  venturing  from  its  retreats 
except  in  the  night."  This  animal  he  considers  a  variety  of  P.  sahriniis, 
(var.  li.  Alj)i>iiis.)  The  locality  in  which  it  was  found,  and  parts  of  his 
description,  however,  on  the  whol«>,  incline  us  to  suppose  that  the  speci- 
men procured  by  Mr.  Drummoxd  was  one  of  our  present  species,  although 
of  a  very  lai^ye  size.  Dr.  Richardson  saj's,  "  I  have  received  specimens 
of  it  from  the  head  of  Elk  river,  and  -also  from  the  south  branch  of  the 
Mackenzie."  So  that  if  this  supj)osition  be  correct,  we  may  conclude  that 
it  inhabits  a  very  extensive  tract  of  country,  and  is,  perhaps,  most  com- 
mon on,  and  to  the  west,  of  the  Rocky  Mountains;  in  which  last  locality 
Mr.  To\v\st;sD  met  with  it  in  the  woods  on  the  shores  of  the  Columbia 
river. 


OENERAL    remarks. 


There  are  no  accounts  of  this  species  of  Plying  Squirrel,  or  of  the 
larger  one,  P.  sabrinus,  in  r.r.uis  and  Clarke's  .Tournal.  Those  travellers 
not  having,  as  we  suppose,  heard  of  either,  although  they  traversed  n 


'.'REGON  FLVmc  SQUIRREL.  ,or 

^o,)sidc.able  portioti  of  the  country  in  wlucl.  both  species  have  since  been 

Wo  hope,  whoa  presentin-^  an  account  of  the  habits  of  P.  sabrinus  to  be 
able  to  HlcM.ify  the  voHe/,,  abovo-mentionecl,  (P.  s.brinus,  var.  B.  Alpinus 
ofR,c„AK„sr.N)  and  if  necessary,  correct  any  errur  1:..  .ur  a:.ountofthe 
geographical  distribution  of  the  present  species  (P.  Oregouemis) 


m 


136 


x^sNX    C  A  N  A  D  E  N  s  i  S.— Geoffrov. 

Canada  Lynx. 

PLATE  XVI.— Mals. 

L.  magnitudine  L.  rufum  superans ;  auribus  triangularibus,  apice  pilis 
I'assis  nigris  erectis  barbatis ;   cauda  capite  breviore,   plantis   villosis; 
supra  cinereus,  maculis  obscuris  nebulosus,  subtus  dilutior. 

CIIARACTKR!?. 

Larger  ihan  F.  riifus ;  cars,  triangular,  fipt  with  an  upright  slender  tuft 
of  coarse  black  hairs  ;  tail,  shorter  than  the  head;  soles,  hairy;  general  en- 
lour,  gray  ahvc,  a  little  clouded  with  irregular  darker  spots,  lighter 
beneath. 

I 

SYNONYMES, 

Loup-CERViER,  (anaris  qua,)  Sagard  Tlieodat,  Canada,  744,  An.  1636. 

or  Lynx,  Dobb's  Hud.^on's  Bay,  p.  41,  An.  1744. 
LvNX,  Pennant,  Arc.  Zool.,  vol.  i.,  p.  50. 

or  Wild-Cat,  Hearne's  Journey,  p.  300. 
Canadian  Lynx,  Bu<}'.,  vol.  v.,  .suppl.  p.  216,  pi.  125. 

"  "         Mackenzie's  Journey,  p.  100. 

Felis  Canadensis,  GeoftVoy,  An.  du  Mus. 

"     Canadensis,  Sabine,  Franklin's  Journev,  p.  669. 
"     Canadensis,  Desni.  Mam.,  p.  223. 
Northern  Lynx,  Godman,  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  !.,  p.  302. 
Felis  Bouealis,  Tuiniuinck,  Monoo-raphie,  t.  i.,  p.  109. 
"     C.VNADENsi.s,  Rich..  F.  B.  A.,  p.  101. 

Koicheubach,  Regnuni  Ajiimale,  sp.  551,  p.  46,  pi.  551.  Lio- 
si.Tp,  1830.  r         f  ,      v 

Lyncus  Bokealis,  Dekay,  Nat.  Hist.,  N.  Y.,  p.  50,  pi.  10,  6g.  2. 

DEPCRIPTION. 

This  species  has  a  rounder,  liroader,  and  proporHonably  shorter  head 
than  {L.  riiftis)  the  Ray  Lynx;  nose,  obtuse;  eyes,  barge;  teeth,  very 
strong;  v/hiskers,  stiff,  horizontal,  arninged  in  three  ol)li(]ue  series;'  ears, 
acute,  thickly  clothed  \vhh  hair  on  both  siuMaces,  tipped  l)y  a  long  and 
slender  tuft  of  coarse  hairs:  beneath  the  ears  comme,»c,-s  a  broad  rut! 


CANADA  LYNX. 


137 


formed  of  lo.vger  iiairs  than  tliose  on  the  surronnding  parts;  this  ruff  sur- 
rounds  the  throat  aiul  reaches  the  ehin,  hut  does  not  extend  around  the 
neck  above.     The  female  has  the  rulf  „,uch  shorter  than  the  male.     Body 
ruhust    thick,  and  heavy;  and  from  the  form,  we  are  inclined  to  believe' 
that  this  species  is  far  less  fleet  than  its  conj,^cner  the  Bay  Ivnx.     The 
fi.-ur  has  a  ^^oolly  appearance;   under-fur,   very  dense  and   sdt,  mixed 
with  hairs  somewhat  rigid  an.l  tw(.  inches  in  length.     On  the  under  sur- 
lace,  the  na.rs  are  thinner  and  a  little  longer  than  those  above.     Tlm^hs 
strong;  legs,  thick  and  ch.n.sy,  presenting  a  slight  resemblance  to  those 
ot  the  bear.     Toes,  thick,  so  completely  conceale<l  by  the  fur  that  the 
tracks  made  in  the  snow  by  this  animal  do  not  show  distinct  impressions 
of  them,  hke  those  made  by  the  fox,  or  the  Bay  lynx.     Their  tracks  are 
round,  leaving  no  marks  of  the  nails  unless  the  animal  is  running,  when 
Us  toes  are  widely  spread  and  its  nails  leave  the  appearance  of  sli.^r 
scratcu-s  in  the  snow.     Tail,  thickly  c.vered   with  hair,   short,  slighh 
urned  upward.     Nails,  very  strong,  much  larger  than  those  of  the  Bay 
Jynx,  curved,  and  acuminate. 


COLOUR. 

Nose    flesh-coloured;  pupil  of  the  eye,  black ;  iris  amber  colour;  mar- 
gm  of  the  hps,  and  inner  surface  of  the  ears,  yellowish-brown;  face,  and 
around  the  eyes,  light-gray;  whiskers,  nearly  all  white,  a  few  black;  out- 
er margin  of  the  ear,  edged  with  black,  widening  as  it  approaches  the  ex- 
tremity, where  it  is  half  an  inch  broad;  tuft  of  ear.  black;  the  ruff  under 
t  10  throat  IS  light-gray,  mixed  in  the  centre  of  the  circle  with  long  tuft« 
of  black  hair.     When  the  hairs  on  the  back  are  blown  aside,  they  exhibit 
a  dark  ye.lowish-brown  coluu,.     The  long  hairs  on  the  back,  black  to 
near  the  extremity,  where  tlur..   is  an  annulation  of  yellowish-brown 
hnally  tipped  wi,h  black;  general  colour  of  the  back,  gray,  with  a  shade 
ol   rufous    and  slightly  varied  with   shades  of  a  darker   colour;   under 
surface,  dull  white,  with  irregular  broad  spots  of  dark-brown  situated  on 
tl'o  inner  surface  of  the  fore-legs  and  extending  along  the  belly;  these 
spots  are  ,,artially  covered  by  long  whitish  hairs  in  the  vicinity.     In  one 
of  our  specimens  these  .lark-coloured  spots  are  altogether  wanting.     The 
logs  are  of  the  colour  of  the  sides ;  upper  surface  of  th.  tail,  to  within  an' 
inch  of  the  tip,  and  exterior  portion  of  the  thighs,  rufous;  beneath  yellow- 
ish-white ;  extremity  of  the  tail  black. 


18 


138 


CANADA  LYNX. 


DIMENHIONit 

The  IMule  represented  on  the  Phite : — Recent. 

From  nofso  to  root  of  tail  .... 

Tail  (vertebra;) 

J'ail,  to  end  of  hair 

Entire  huigth        ....... 

From  nose  to  end  of  skull 

"        "     "   root  of  ears 

"        "     "   end  of  ears  laid  down       ... 
Breadth  of  ears  in  front        .... 

Heif^ht  of  ears 

Length  of  tufts  of  hair  on  the  ear 
Fr(m  nose  to  hind-foot  stretched  beyond  tail 
From   do.    to  end  of  fore-loot  stretched  beyond  nose 
Distance  between  roots  of  ears  anteriorly 

tips   of    do.       .... 

Spread  of  fore-feet,  between  the  claws 

Hroadth  of  arm     -        -        -        i        .         .        . 

Height  to  shoulder  from  middle  of  fore.claw 

Weight  10  pounds;  extremely  lean. 


33  inches 

5 

6 
89 

6 

41 

73 

3i 

2i 

2 
45 

5i 

^ 

5 

2f 
13^ 


A  specunen  in  the  liesh  from  the  Petersburg  Mountains,  east  of  Troy 
iMale. 
From  point  of  nose  to  root  of  tail   -        -         .        . 
Tail  (vertebrae)      ---.... 

Tail,  to  end  of  fur 

Height  of  ear        - 

Length  of  tufts  on  the  ears 

From  shoulder  to  extremity  of  toes  on  fore-leet 
From  heel  to  end  of  hind-claw       .... 
Weight  22  pounds. 


Inches. 

liinea 

37 

0 

4 

4 

5 

4 

2 

2 

1 

0 

17 

0 

7 

5 

HABITS. 

In  some  parts  of  the  State  Maine,  and  in  New  Brunswick,  there  are 
tracts  of  land,  formerly  covered  with  large  trees  but  over-run  by  fires  not 
many  yefi  '""e,  now  presenting  a  desolate  apjicaranee  as  you  look 
in  every  direction  and  see  nothing  hut  tall  blacl.ened  and  charred  trunks 
standuig.  with  only  their  larger  branches  occasionally  stretching  out  to 
the  righ'  ur  left,  while  many  of  them  are  like  bare  poles,  half  burnt  off 


CANADA   LYNX. 


139 


near   he  roots  fH-rhaps,  and  lookin-^  as  if  thoy  mi«ht  Tall  to  the  earth  with 
he  ,sh..hte«t  breath  of  air.     Into  one  of  these  "burnt  districts,"  let  us  po 
o^^ot  .er.     Nature  has  already  ben:un  to  rephace  the  stately  trees,  whieh 
he  destroyn,g  elornont  had  consu.nrd  or  stripped  of  all  beauty  and  vi- 
tality, and  we  find  the  new  growth  already  advanced;  instead  of  the  light 
bnttle,  and  inflammable  pine,  the  solid  and  hard,  maple,  oak,  or  beech' 
are  tlnckly  an.l  rapidly  raising  their  leafy  bran.ues  to  hide  from  our  view 
the  unsightly  trunks  that,  half-destroyed,  charred,  and  prostrate  on  the 
grou.,.l,  a,e  strewn  aro.md  in  ahr.ost  every  direction.     We  must  pursue 
our  way  slovyly  and  laboriously,  sometin.es  .juu,ping  over,  and  sometimes 
creepn.g  under  or  walking  along  a  fallen  tree,  our  progress  impeded  by 
the  new  growth,  by  brambles,  hole,  in  the  ground,  and  the  necessity  ot 
caut.ously  observing  the  general  direction  of  our  crooked  and  fatiguing 
march;  here  an.l  there  we  come  to  a  small  open  space,  where  the  wild 
raspberry  tempts  us  to  pause  and  allay  our  thi...^,  and  perhaps  whilst 
p.ckmg  Its  npe  fruit,  a  pack  of  grouse  rise  with  a  whirr-whirr,  and  attract 
our  attent.on-they  are  gone  c>re  we  can  reach  our  gun:  but  we  are  not 
alone;-s,-e,  under  cov.-r  of  yon  thicket,  crouched  behind  that  fallen  pine 
tree,  .s  the  Canada  Lynx-sfalthily  and  slowly  u.oving  along_it  is  he 
that  s  artled  the  game  that  has  just  escaped.    Now  he  ascends  to  th,-  lower 
..ranch  ol  a  thick  leaved  tree,  and  closely  squatted,  awaits  the  approach  of 
son.e  other  prej,  to  dart  upon  and  secure  it,  ere  the  u.^suspecting  object  of 
.is  appetite  can  eve.i  see  whence  the  devourer  comes.     We  move  carefully 
toward  the  concealed  prowler-but  his  eyes  and  ears  are  full  as  good  as 
our  own-with  a  bound  he  is  upon  the  earth,  and  in  an  instant  is  out 
of  sight  amulthe  logs  and  brush- wood-for  savage  and  voracious  as  he 
may  be  when  pursuing  the  smaller  animals,  he  is  equally  cowardiv  when 
oppos^o  to  his  great  enemy-man;  and  as  his  skin  is  valuable,  lei  us  ex- 
cuse him  lor  desiring  to  keep  it  whole. 

The  Canada  Lynx  is  more  retired  in  its  habits  than  our  common  wild 
cat,  keeping  clm^fly  far  from  the  habitations  of  even  the  settlers  who  first 
penetrate  into  the  depths  of  the  wilderness.     Its  fine  long  fur  enables  it  to 
withstand  the  cold  of  our  northern  latitudes,  and  it  is  found  both  in  the 
wocKled  countries  north  of  the  great  lakes,  and  as  far  south  as  the  Mid- 
dl,.  Strifes,  dispersed  over  a  great  many  degrees  of  longitude;  even  occa- 
sionally approaching  the  sea-coast.     The  specimen  from  which  we  drew 
Uie  hgure  ol  this  animal  was  s.at  to  us  from  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia.     It 
had   been   taken    in   a   wolf-trap,    after    having    (as   we   supposed)    de- 
stroyed several   sheep.     We  kept  it  alive  for  a  few   weeks,   feeding  it 
on   tresh   raw  meat;   it  ate  but  a  small   quantity  at  a  time  and    like 
(ill    predacious    animals,    appeared    able   to   support    a    long   flist    with 


I    I, 


I 


140 


CANADA  L\iNX. 


out  inconvenience.  TIjc  precarious  life  led  hy  beasts  ol"  prey,  iti  fac! 
makes  this  a  wise  provision  of  Nature,  but  lor  whicli  many  would  no 
doubt  soon  perish,  as  occ-isionally  several  days  may  pass  without  their 
being  able  to  secure  a  hearty  meal. 

The  Lynx  we  have  just  mentioned,  wlien  a  dog  approached  the  cage  in 
which  it  was  confined,  drew  back  to  the  iarlhest  part  of  it,  and  with  open 
jaws  spit  forth  like  a  cat  at  the  intruder.  We  often  admired  the  brilliancy 
of  its  large  eyes,  when  it  glared  at  us  from  a  corner  of  its  prison. 
When  killed,  it  was  extremely  poor,  and  we  ibund  tliat  otu'.  of  its  legs  had 
been  broken,  probably  by  a  rifle-ball,  some  considerable  time  previous 
to  its  having  been  captured,  as  the  bone  was  united  again  pretty  firndy ; 
it  was  in  other  respects  a  fine  specimen. 

AVhen  alarmed,  or  when  pursued,  the  Canada  Lynx  leaps  or  bounds 
rapidly  in  a  straight  direction  from  the  danger;  and  takes  to  a  tree  if 
hard  pressed  by  the  dogs.  It  is  very  strong,  and  possessing  remarkably 
large  and  powerful  fore-legs  and  claws,  is  able  to  climl)  trees  of  any  size, 
and  can  leap  I'rom  a  consideral'le  height  to  the  ground  without  feeling  the 
jar,  alighting  on  all  four  fe«>t  at  the  same  instant,  ready  lor  flight  or  bat- 
tle. If  dislodged  from  a  tree  by  the  hunter,  it  is  instantly  surrounded  by 
the  dogs,  in  which  case  it  strikes  with  its  sharp  claws  and  bites  severely. 

In  crossing  the  Petersburg  mountains  east  of  Albanj-,  more  than 
thirty  years  ago,  we  procured  from  a  larnn-r  a  male  Lynx,  the 
measurement  of  which  was  taken  at  the  time,  and  has  just  been  given 
l)y  us,  (see  p.  138.)  It  had  been  killed  only  half  an  hour  before,  and 
was  in  very  tine  order.  'I'he  Ihrmer  stated  that  in  hunting  for  the 
pulled  grouse,  his  dog  had  started  this  Lynx  from  u  thicket  of  laurel 
hushes;  it  made  no  doublings,  but  ran  about  a  quarter  of  a  nule 
up  the  side  of  a  hill,  pursued  by  the  dog,  when  it  ascended  a  tree, 
on  which  he  shot  it;  it  fell  to  the  ground  ([uite  dead,  after  having 
hung  for  some  time  suspended  from  a  branch  to  which  it  clung  with 
great  tenacity  until  life  was  extinct. 

It  has  been  stated  that  the  Canada  Lynx  "is  easily  destroyed  by  a 
blow  on  the  back  with  a  slender  stick;"  this  we  are  inclined  tc 
think  a  mistake,  never  having  witnessed  it,  and  judging  merely  by 
the  activity  and  strength  manifested  by  the  animal,  although  we  agree 
with  the  farther  remarks  of  the  same  writer,  "that  il  never  attacks 
man."  This  indeed  is  a  remark  applicable  to  n(>arly  all  the  beasts 
of  prey  in  our  country,  except  in  extreme  cases  of  Imnger  or  desperation, 
ft  is  said  by  Dr.  RicjiARnsoN,  that  the  Canada  Lynx  "swims  well,  and 
will  cross  the  arm  of  a  lake  two  miles  wide" — this  is  a  habit  which 
is.  also  shared  by  thi'  mon;  southern  s])ecies,  {Lt/iu  rii/us.) 


CANADA  LV>X. 


141 


Ihe  Canada  Lynx,  like  all  other  animals  of  its  general  habits,  breeds 
..ut  once  a  year,  generally  having  two  young;  ^.     hrr  .  hea,,!  of  an  in 
stance,  however  offh,,.,.  whelps  being  littered  at  a  time. 

The  skin  of  thi>  animal  is  generally  used  for  mulls,  collars.  &c.    aid  i 
ranked     ,no,..     he  r-  autiful  materials  for  these  purposes,     't  varies 

somewhat  i  best  are  much  lighler,  when  killed  in  good 

season,  than  the  sperimen  from  which  our  drawing  was  made. 

We  have  been  informed  by  the  northern  trap{)ers  that  the  Canada  Lynx 
1^  'lally  taken  in  steel-traps,  such  as  arc  used  for  the  beaver  and  otter, 
in      u'hich  he  enters  very  readily. 

The  Indians,  we  are  told,  regard  its  flesh  as  good  eating,  which 
may  perhaps  be  ascribed  to  the  excellence  of  their  appetites.  Hearne 
(see  Journey,  p.  3(Hi,)  who  ate  of  it  in  the  neighbourhood  of  York  Fort,' 
says,  '-tlie  Hesii  is  white,  and  nearly  as  good  as  that  of  the  rabbit."  We' 
think  we  woul.'  ve  the  pn  lerence,  however,  to  a  buffalo-hump  well 
roasted,  for  either  dinner  or  supper. 

The  stories  told  of  the  great  cunning  of  this  species,  in  throwing  mosses 
from  the  trees  in  order  to  entice  .e  deer  to  feed  on  them,  and  then  drop- 
puig  on  their  backs  and  tearing  their  throats,  may  as  well  be  omitted 
here,  as  thty  fortunately  reciuire  no  refutation  at  flu;  present  day. 

The  food  of  the  Canada  Lynx  consists  of  several  species  of  grouse  and 
other  birds,  tin.  northern  hare,  gray  rabhit,  chipping  squirrel,  and  other 
(luadrupeds.     It  has  be,-n  mentioned  to  us,  that  in  the  territories  to  the 
north  of  the  tlulf  of  8t.  Lawrence  they  destroy  the  Arctic  fox,  and  make 
great  havoc  among  the  lemmings,  (Georvciius.)     IIearne  informs  us,  that 
in  Hudson's   Bay   th.-y   "sHdom   leave  a  place   which  is  frequente'd  by 
rabbits  till  they  have  kille.l  nearly  all  of  them."     They  are  said  to  pounce 
on  the  wild  goose  at  its  breeding  places,  and  to  destroy  many  marmots 
and  spermophiles,  by  lying  in  wait  for  them  at  their  burrows.     At  a  pub- 
lic house  in  Canada  we  were  shown  the  skin  of  one  of  these  Lynxes,  the 
animal  having  b<.cn  found  quite  helpless  and  nearly  dead  in  the  woods 
It  appears,  that  lea|)ing  on  to  a  porcupine,  it  had  caught  a  Tartar,  as 
Its  head  was  greatly  inflamed,  and  it  was  nearly  blind.     Its  mouth  was 
full  of  the  sharp  quills  of  that  well-defended  animal,  which  would  in  a 
day  or  two  have  occasioned  its  death.     We  have  hea,      one  or  two  ac- 
counts of  the  Canada   Lynx   having  killed  a  deer;    we  are  somewhat 
sceptical  in  regard  to  this  being  a  general  habit  of  the  species,  although 
when  pressed  by  hunger,  which  ren.lers  all  creatures  desperate  at  times, 
it  may  occ;vsionnlly  venture  to  attack  a  large  animal. 

IIearne  states  that  he  "once  saw  a  Lynx  that  had  seized  on  the  carcass 
'>f  a  deer  just  killed   by  an  Indian,  who  was  forced  to  shoot  it   before 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

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142 


CANADA  LYNX. 


It  would  rplinquish  the  prize."  (See  Hearne's  Journey,  p.  372.)  Young 
fawns,  as  wc  have  ourselves  ascertained,  are  killed  by  these  ivnimaLs,  and 
farmers  in  some  of  the  wilder  portions  of  our  Northern  States,  and  of  Ca- 
nada, complain  of  their  carrying  off  their  lambs  and  pigs.  The  Canada 
Lynx  is,  however,  by  no  means  so  great  a  depredator  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  farm-yard  as  the  wild-cat  or  Bay  lynx,  as  his  more  retired  habits  in- 
cline him  to  keep  in  the  deepest  recesses  of  the  forests — and  besides,  for 
aught  we  know,  he  may  prefer  "game"  to  "pigs  and  poultry." 

The  slow  multiplication  of  this  spc,  :ies  proves  that  it  is  not  intended 
to  be  abundant,  but  to  exist  only  in  such  moderate  numbers  as  are  neces- 
sary to  enable  it  to  play  its  part  vvitii  other  carnivora  in  preventing  too 
fast  an  increase  of  many  of  the  smaller  animals  and  birds ;  if  the  hare, 
the  squirrel,  the  rat,  and  all  the  graminivorous  quadrupeds  and  birds  vi'ere 
allovv'ed  to  increase  their  species  witiiout  being  preyed  upon  by  the  owl, 
•the  hawk,  the  fox,  the  lynx,  and  other  enemies,  the  grass  would  be  cut  off, 
and  the  seeds  of  plants  destroyed,  so  that  the  larger  animals  would  find 
no  subsistence,  and  in  time,  from  the  destruction  of  the  seeds  by  the  teeth 
of  the  rodentia,  the  forest  itself  would  become  a  wide  desert. 

There  is  then  a  meaning  in  this  an-angement  of  Providence ;  and  the 
more  we  investigate  the  works  of  Him  who  hath  created  nothing  in  vam, 
the  more  wc  are  led  to  admire  the  wisdom  of  His  designs. 


GEOfiRAnnCAI,    DISTRIBUTION. 

The  Canada  Lynx  is  a  northern  species — it  is  known  to  exist  north  of 
the  great  Litkcs  eastward  of  the  Rocky  Mountains;  it  is  found  on  the 
Mackenzie  river  as  far  north  as  latitude  60°.  It  exists  in  Labrador,  and 
in  Canada.  It  still  occurs,  although  very  sparingly,  in  some  of  the  New 
England  States.  It  is  occasionally  met  with  in  the  northern  part  of  New- 
York.  We  heard  of  one  having  been  taken  some  fifteen  years  ago  in  the 
mountains  of  Pennsylvania.  Farther  south,  we  have  not  trac»"d  it.  It  is 
not  found  in  Kentucky,  or  in  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi.  Westward  of 
that  river  it  does  not  appear  to  exist.  There  are  Lynxes  between  the 
Rocky  Mountains  and  the  Pa(!ific  Ocean ;  these  seem,  however,  to  be  the 
Bay  lynx,  or  a  s[)ecies  so  nearly  resembling  tiie  latter,  that  they  appear  to 
be  no  more  than  oin;  of  its  numerous  varieties.  There  is  a  specimen  in 
the  Museum  of  the  Zoological  Society  of  London,  marked  F.  Imrcalis, 
wliicli  is  stated  to  have  been  brought  from  Calilbrnia  by  Douglass,  which 
we  did  not  see,  having  somehow  overlooked  it.  Its  characters  and  history 
deserve  investigation. 


CANADA  LYNX. 


OENERAL    REMARKS 


143 


Tlie  question  whether  the  Canada  Lynx  is,  or  is  not*  identical  with 
my  species  of  th^  north  of  Europe,  is  by  no  means  settled.  Pennant 
considered  it  the  same  as  the  lynx  {Fdis  lynx)  of  the  old  world.  Buf- 
FON,  after  pointing  out  the  distinctive  marks  of  each,  came  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  they  were  mere  varieties.  These  naturalists,  however,  lived  at 
a  period  when  it  was  customary  to  consider  the  animals  of  America  as 
mere  varieties  of  those  of  the  Eastern  continent.  GEOPFROi-  St.  IIilaire 
named  our  present  species,  considering  it  distinct  from  the  Lynxes  of  Eu 
rope ;  and  Temminck  des  ribed  it  under  the  name  of  F.  borealis,  as  exist- 
ing in  the  northern  parts  of  both  continents,  thinking  it  a  species  distinct 
from  Felis  lynx  of  the  north  of  Europe. 

We  spent  some  time  with  Professor  Reichenbacii,  in  comparing  speci- 
mens of  European  and  American  lynxes  which  exisr.  in  the  museum  of 
Dresden.     From  the  general  appearance  of  these  specimens,  a  great  si- 
milarity between  L.  Canadensis  and  the  Lynx  {Felis  lynx)  of  the  north 
of  Europe  may  undoubtedly  be  remarked,  and  tliey  might  be  regarded  as 
mere  varieties  of  one  species.     The  forms  of  animals,  however,  approach 
each  other  in  both  continents  where  there  is  a  similarity  of  climate.     Many 
of  the  genera  of  New- York  and  Pennsylvania  plants  are  largely  repre- 
sented in  Germany,  and  although  nearly  all  the  indigenous  species  are 
different,  they  are  closely  allied.     In  South  Carolina,  there  are  several 
oirds,  quadrupeds,   and  reptiles,  which  bear  a  striking  resemblance  to 
those  found  in  Egypt,  in  nearly  the  same  parallel  of  latitude.     The  black- 
winged  haw^k  (F.  dispar)  resembles  the  F.  mclanopterus  so  nearly,  that 
Bonaparte  published  them  as  identical.     Our  alligator  is  a  near  relative 
of  the  crocodile,  our  soft-shelled  turtle  (Tiionyx  ferox)  is  much  like  the 
^-  ^g'JPticus,  and  our  fox  squirrel  {Sc.  capistratus)  has  a  pretty  good  re- 
presentative in  Sc.  Madagascaricnsis.     In  a  mor<     iorthcrn  latitude,  we 
may  point  to  the  American  and  European  badgers,  to  Lcpiis  Amerieanus 
and  L.  variabilis,  and  to  Tamias  striatns  of  Siberia  and  T.  Lystcrii,  as  ex- 
amples of  the  near  approach  of  distinct  species  to  each  other ;  to  which 
we  may  add,  that  the  wild  sheep  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  {Ovis  montana) 
bears  so  striking  a  resemblance  to  the  Ovis  Ammon,  another  species  ex- 
isting on  the  mountains  of  Asia,  that  the  two  have  been  confounded ;  and 
our  Spcrmophilus  Townscndii  is  in  size  and  colour  so  like  the  Souslik  {Sp. 
gutlatus)  of  the  mountains  of  Hungary,  that  Dr.  Richardson  published 
it  ay  a  mere  variety.      Taking  these  facts  into   consideration,   after  a 
careful  examination  of  Lynx  Canadensis,  and  after  having  compared  if 


^WfWTPUP 


141 


CANADA  LYNX. 


with  Fclis  lynx  of  Europe,  we  pronounce  them  distinct  species  vvitliout 
hesitation. 

Although  the  European  lynx  varii's  considerably  in  colour,  especially 
specimens  killed  at  difterent  seasons  of  the  year,  it  is  in  all  the  vari<>- 
ties  we  have  seen,  of  a  deeper  rufous  tint  than  the  Canada  Lynx ;  tne 
spots  on  the  body  are  more  distinct,  and  the  hair,  in  some  specimens 
from  Russia  and  Siberia,  is  much  shorter  than  in  our  animal,  while  the 
tail  is  longer  and  more  tufted.  Temminck,  a  very  close  ol)server,  and 
distinguished  naturalist,  thinks  the  Canada  Lynx  is  found  on  both  con- 
tinents— in  this  he  may  possibly  be  correct ;  we,  however,  saw  no  spe- 
cimerjs  in  the  museums  of  Europe  that  corresponded  with  the  descrip- 
tion of  L.  Canadensis,  that  did  not  come  from  America.  The  name, 
F.  borealis,  which  Temminck  bestowed  on  it,  can,  however,  only  be  consi- 
dered a  synonyme,  as  GEotTRov  described  the  animal  previously,  giving  it 
the  name  of  Felts  Canadensis.  We  have  not  been  able  to  find  in  Ame- 
rica the  European  species  described  by  Temminck  under  the  name  of 
Felis  cervaria,  which,  s  he  supposes,  exists  also  in  the  northern  part  ol 
our  continent. 


,n  i 


145 


SCIURUS  CINEREUS.-L.NN.,  Gmel, 

CAT-8aUIRREL. 

PLATE  XVII. 

S.  corpore  robusto,  S.  capistratus  minore,  S.  migrat.rio  majore:  crun- 
bus  pauUum  curtis;  naso  et  auribus  nunquam  albis;  cauda  corpor- 
paullo  longiore.  ' 

CHARACTERS. 

A  little  smaller  than  the  fox  squirrel,  (S.  capistratus;)  larger  than  H. 
northern  gray  squirrel,  (S.  migratorius ;)  body,  stout;  legs,  rather  short r 
nose  and  ears,  never  white  ;  tail,  a  little  shorter  than  the  body. 

SYNOiNYMES. 

SoiURUS  CiNEBEUs,  Rjiy,  Quad.,  p.  215,  A.  D.  1693 
Cat-Squirrel,  Catesby,  Carolina,  vol.  ii.,  p.  74,  pi.  74,  A.  D    1771 
Kahn's  Travels,  vol.  ii.,  p.  409,  English' trans 

"         "      Pcnnant'sArcticZoology,  vol.  i.,  p.  119,  1784 
SciURus  CiNEREUs,  Linn.,  Gmel., ngg 

Fox-Squirre,..  (S.  vulpinus,)  Godman,  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ii.,  p   128 

SciuRus  CiNEREus    Appendix  to  American  Edition  of  McMurtrie's  Tran.iatiou  .f 

l-uviers  Animal  Kingdom,  vol.  i.,  p.  433. 
_     "  "        Bach,  Monog.  Zoological  Society,  1838 

Vulgo,  Fox^QuiRREL,  of  Ncw-York,  Pennsylvania,  and  New  Jersey,  distinct  from 
the  Fox-Sqmrrel  (S.  capistratus)  of  the  southern  States. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Head,  less  elongated  than  that  of  ^^  capistratus,  (the  fox-squirrel,)  and 
mc.sor.s  rather  narrower,  shorter,  and  less  prominent  than  in  that  spe- 
cie.s.  Ears  broad  at  base  and  nearly  round,  thickly  clothed  on  both  sur- 
faces with  hair;  behind  the  ears  the  hairs  are  longer  in  winter  than 
during  summer,  and  in  the  former  season,  extend  beyond  the  margin  oi 
the  ear.  Whiskers,  numerous,  longer  than  the  head;  neck,  .short;  body 
stouter  than  that  of  S.  capistratus;  or  any  known  species  of  Squirrel  pe- 
.'Uluir  10  our  continent.  Fur,  more  woolly,  and  less  rigid  Mian  in  S  "c 
\'J  '  ' 


146 


CAT-SQUIRREL. 


nist7-atus ;  not  as  smooth  as  in  -S.  migratnriits.  Ilindn-  parts  heavy, 
giving  it  a  clumsy  appearance.  Tail,  long,  broad,  ami  ll.-it,  rather  less 
distichous  than  in  »V.  cajtistnttiis,  or  -S.  migrdtoriiis;  feet,  shorter  than  in 
the  former.     Nails,  strong,  compressed,  moihu-ately  arched,  and  acute. 

COLOUR. 

Perhaps  none  of  our  squirrels  are  subject  to  greater  varieties  of  colour 
than  the  present;  we  have  seen  specimens  in  (formerly)  Peai-e's  museum, 
of  every  tint,  from  light-gray  almost  to  black.  Two  others  that  came 
under  our  observation  were  nearly  white,  and  had  not  red  or  pink  eyes, 
which  last  are  a  characteristic  mark  of  that  variety  in  any  animal  which 
is  commonly  called  an  albino. 

Between  the  varieties  of  our  present  species  and  the  almost  ecpially 
numerous  varieties  of  the  Ibx-squirrel,  (S.  ciipistrtitiis,)  there  may  be  re- 
marked an  important  ditference.  In  the  latter  species  the  varieties  are 
generally  perm'xnent,  scarcely  any  specimens  being  ibund  of  intermediate 
colour  between  the  well-known  shades  which  exist  in  dillercnt  localities 
or  families,  whilst  in  the  former,  every  variety  of  tint  can  be  observed, 
and  scarcely  two  can  be  found  exactly  alike.  The  prevailing  variety, 
or  colour,  however,  is  gray,  and  one  of  this  colour  we  will  now  describe 
from  a  specimen  before  us. 

Teeth,  orange;  nails,  dark-brown  near  the  base,  lighter  to  the  extre- 
mities. On  till'  cheeks,  a  slight  tinge  of  yellowish-brown,  extending  to 
the  junction  of  the  iiead  with  the  neck;  inner  surface  of  the  ears,  yellow- 
ish-brown; outer  surface  of  the  ear,  fur  soil  and  woolly  in  appearance, 
extending  a  little  beyond  the  margin,  light  cinereous  edged  with  rutsy- 
brown.  Whiskers  l)otli  black  and  white,  the  black  ones  most  numerous: 
under  the  throat,  i!!ner  surface  of  the  legs  and  thighs,  and  the  whole  un- 
der-fur, wliite,  producing  an  iron-gray  colon'  at  the  surface;  tail,  less 
flat  and  distichous  (being  rather  more  roui  d,  and  narrower)  than  in 
many  other  species  of  this  genus,  composed  of  hairs  which  separately 
examined  are  of  a  dull  wliite  near  the  roots,  succeeded  by  a  narrow 
marking  of  black,  then  white,  ibllowed  by  a  broad  line  of  black,  and 
broadly  tipped  with  white. 

Another  specimen  is  dark-gray  on  the  back  and  head,  with  a  mix- 
ture of  black  and  cinereous  on  the  feet,  thighs,  and  uiuler-surface.  Whis- 
kers, nearly  all  white.  The  markings  on  the  tail  are  similar  to  those  of 
the  other  specimen.  A  third  specimen,  obtained  i)\nn  Pennsylvania,  is 
.lark  yellowish-brown  on  tlie  upper-surface;  legs  and  belly,  of  a  bright, 
orange-colour.  A  fourth  s|)eeinien,  obtained  in  the  New-York  market, 
is  gravish-brown  .above,  and  black  beneath      The  bones  c\'  this  specie^ 


CAT-SQUIRREL. 


147 


aremvariably  of  a  reddish-co'our-this  is  strikingly  perceptible  after  the 
tlesh  IS  cooked. 

We  have  represented  in  the  plate  three  of  these  P,.,uirrels.  all  of  dif- 
feren.  eoIou,-H,  but  the  variet.es  of  tint  to  be  observed  in  different  speci- 
mens  cf  the  Cat-Squirrel,  are  so  great,  that  among  fifty  or  more  perhaps 
we  never  could  find  two  exactly  alike;  for  which  reas'on  we  selected  l^ 
our  drawmg  an  orange-coloured  one.  a  gray  one.  and  one  nearly  black. 

A  IJ  1  T,  DIMENSIONS. 

An  old  male. — Recent. 

From  nose  to  root  of  tail 

J  ength  of  tail,  (vertebrfe) 

do.     of  tail,  to  end  of  hair  .... 

do.     from  fore-claws  to  hind.claws,  stretched  out 
Weight,  1  lb.  13  oz. 
Female  specimen  ser.t  to  us,  by  Mr.  Baird,  of  Pennsylvania. 
Length  of  body      ....._ 

do.     of  tail,  from  root  to  end  of  vertebras 
do.     of  tail,        «         to  end  of  hair 
do.     to  end  of  hind-legs      . 
Extent  of  fore-legs  -         .        .        . 

Hind-foot 

Fore-foot 

Height  of  ear,  anteriorly         -        -        . 
do.     of    "    posteriorly 
do.     of    "    laterally,  (inside.)     - 
Nose  to  occiput      -        .        .        .        , 

Breadth  of  ear 

do.     of  tail 

•  •  •» 

Weight,  2  lb.  5  oz. 


Inches. 

llj 
181 


13 
11 
14 
10 
18f 

3 

2 

H 
1 

H 

3 

H 


This  Squirrel  has  many  habits  in  common  with  other  species,  residmg 
m  the  hollows  of  trees,  building  in  summer  its  nest  of  ieaves  in  some 
convenient  fork  of  a  tree,  and  subsisting  on  the  same  kinds  oflo        ItTs 
however,  the  most  inacuve  of  all  our  known  species;   it  climbs  a  tree 
no   with  the  lightness  and  agility  of  the  northern' gray  squirrel,  bu^  wfth 

L^tc,  >.)     After  ascending,  it  does  not  immediately  mount  to  the  top  as  is 
the  case  with  other  species,  but  clings  to  the  body  of  .le  tree  on  the  s  de 

branch.     We  have  seldom  observed  it  leaping  from  bough  to  bou-^h 


t      ' 


(48 


CAT-SQUIRREL 


When  it  is  induced,  in  search  of  food  to  proceed  to  the  extremity  of  a 
branch,  it  moves  cautiously  and  heavily,  and  Kf''"'rahy  returns  <he  same 
way.  On  the  ground  it  runs  clumsily  and  makes  slower  progress  tlian 
the  gray  squirrel.  It  is  usually  fat,  especially  in  autumn,  and  the  flesh  is 
said  to  be  preferable  to  that  of  any  of  our  other  species  of  squirrel.  The 
Cat-Squirrcl  does  not  appear  to  be  migratory  in  its  habits.  The  same 
pair,  if  undisturbed,  may  be  found  in  a  particular  vicinity  for  a  number 
of  years  in  succession,  and  the  sexes  seem  paired  for  life. 

Wflliam  Bairu,  Esq.,  of  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania,  says  of  this  species — 
"The  Fox-Squirrel,  as  this  species  is  called  with  us,  will  never,  unless  al- 
most in  the  very  jaws  of  a  dog,  ascend  any  other  tree  than  that  which 
contains  its  nest,  differing  very  greatly  in  this  respect  from  our  gray 
squirrel." 

The  nest,  which  we  have  only  seen  on  two  occasions,  was  constructed 
of  sticks  and  leaves,  in  the  crotch  of  a  tree  about  twenty  feet  from  the 
ground,  and  in  both  cases  the  pair  had  a  safer  retreat  in  a  hollow  of 
the  same  tree  above. 

This  species  is  said  to  have  young  but  once  a  year.  We  have  no  posi- 
tive evidence  to  the  contrary,  but  suspect  that  it  will  hereafter  be  dis- 
covered that  it  produces  a  second  litter  in  the  summer,  or  toward 
autumn. 

On  taking  some  of  them  from  the  nest,  we  found  on  one  occasion  three, 
and  on  another  four,  young.  These  nests  were  placed  in  the  hollows  of 
oak  trees. 


GEOGRAPIIICAI.    DLSTRIBUTION. 


The  Cat-Squirrel  is  rather  a  rare  species,  but  is  not  very  uncommon  in 
the  oak  and  hickory  woods  of  Pennsylvania ;  we  have  seen  it  near  Easton 
and  York;  it  is  found  occasionally  in  Maryland  and  Virginia,  and  is  met 
with  on  Long  Island  and  in  some  other  portions  of  the  State  of  New- 
York,  but  in  the  northern  parts  of  that  State  is  exceedingly  rare,  as  we 
only  saw  two  pair  durinsr  fifteen  years'  close  observation.  At  certain 
seasons  we  have  found  these  squirrels  tolerably  abundant  in  the  markets 
of  the  city  of  New- York,  and  have  ascertained  that  persons  who  had 
them  for  sale  were  aware  of  their  superior  value,  as  we  were  frequently 
charged  37i  cents  for  one,  whilst  the  common  gray  squirrel  could  easily 
be  purchased  for  12 J  cents.  The  south-eastern  portion  of  New- Jersey 
«eems  to  be  well  suited  to  them.  This  species  is  rarely  found  in  Massa- 
chusetts and  one  we  leceived  from  the  north-western  part  of  that  Stalf 
was  there  regarded  as  a  great  curiosity. 


CAT-SQUIRUEL 


149 


OBNERAL    REMARKa. 

This  species  has  been  sometimes  coiiroundcd  with  the  fox-squirrel,  (S 
yipislmtiis,)  mul  at  other  times  with  the  northern  gray  s(iuirrel,  (.S*.  mi<rra- 
tonus,)  and  all  three  have  by  some  been  considered  as  forminf?  but*onc 
species;  it  is  however  in  size  intermediate  between  the  two  former,  and 
has  some  distinctive  marlis  by  which  it  may  be  known  from  eith(>r. 

The  northern  gray  squirrel  has  (as  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  ascer- 
tain  irom  an  examination  of  many  specimens)  permanently  five  molars 
on  each  side  in  the  upper  jaw,  and  the  present  species  lias  but  four.  The 
Cat-Squirrel,  however,  like  the  young  ibx-squirrel,  has  no  doubt  a  small 
deciduous  tooth,  which  drops  out  in  the  very  young  state,  and  at  so  early 
a  period  that  we  have  not  succeeded  in  detecting  it. 

Sriurus  capistratus  is  in  all  its  varieties,  as  far  as  wi.  have  observed, 
invariably  and  permanently  distinguished  by  its  having  white  ears  and 
a  white  nose,  which  is  not  the  case  with  S.  cinereus.  The  former  is  a 
southern  species,  the  latter  is  Ibund  in  the  middle  and  northern  States, 
l)iit  not  in  the  colder  portions  of  New  England  or  in  Canada. 

S.  capistratus  is  a  longer,  thinner  and  more  active  species,  running 
with  almost  the  speed  of  a  hare,  and  ascending  the  tallest  pines  to  so 
great  a  height  that  nothing  but  a  rifle-ball  can  bring  it  down :  the  pre- 
sent species  is  heavy,  clumsy,  and  prefers  clinging  to  the  body  of  a  tree, 
not  generally  ascending  to  its  extreme  branches.  The  hair  of  .S'.  cnpis. 
tratus  is  more  rigid  and  smoother  than  that  of .«?.  cinereus,  which  is  rather 
soft  and  woolly. 

We  have  instituted  this  comparison  in  order  to  prove  the  inaccurnoy  ol 
a  statement  contained  in  one  of  the  last  works  published  in  our  country 
on  the  American  quadrupeds.  The  author  says,  "We  suspect  that  Gon- 
man's  Ibx-squirrel  (S.  vulpinus)  as  well  as  his  Cat,  {S.  cinereus)  are  varie- 
ties  only  of  the  hooded  squirrel."  Under  the  above  names  Godman  pub- 
lished  only  one  and  the  same  species,  but  the  hooded  squirrel,  {S.  capis 
tratus,)  with  white  ears  and  nose,  is  a  very  different  species,  and  is  no' 
given  by  Godman. 

The  Cat-Squirrel  was  the  first  of  the  genus  described  from  America 
Rav  characterizes  it  as  S.  virginianus  cinereus  major.  Catesbv  gives  ? 
tolerable  description  of  it,  and  a  figure,  whidi  although  rather  extrava 
gant  in  the  size  of  its  tail,  cannot  from  its  short  ears,  which  as  well  as  tlio 
nose  are  destitute  of  the  white  marks  of  S.  capistratus,  be  mistaken  for 
the  gray  variety  of  the  latter  species. 

He  says— "These  squirrels  are  as  large  as  a  half-grown  i-nbbit;  the 
whole  structure  of  their  bodies  and  limbs  thicker  in  proportion  and  of  a 


i 


f^pvna 


150 


CAT-SQUIRREL. 


grosser  and  more  clumsy  make  than  our  common  squirrels."  From  this 
time  it  became  for  many  years  either  lost  or  confounded  with  other  spe- 
cies by  naturalists,  Desmareht,  under  the  name  of  cincrcus,  rntrrrly  mis- 
took the  species,  and  applied  it  to  two  others,  the  Carolina  gray,  and  the 
northern  gray  squirrel.  Harlan  copied  the  article,  adopting  and  per- 
petuating the  error.  Godman,  by  the  aid  of  Le  Conte  as  it  appears  to 
us,  (see  a  reference  to  his  letter— Amer.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  120,)  was 
enabled  to  correct  this  error,  but  fell  into  another,  describing  one  spe- 
cies under  two  names,  and  omitting  the  southern  fox-squirrel  (S.  capistra- 
lus)  altogether,  assigning  its  habits  to  his  S.  vulpinus.  In  our  monograph 
of  this  genus,  1838,  we  endeavoured  to  correct  the  errors  into  which  au- 
tiiors  had  fallen  in  regard  to  this  species;  time  and  further  experience 
have  only  strengthened  us  in  the  views  we  then  expressed. 


From  this 
other  spe- 
frrcly  mis- 
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151 


LEPUS    PALUSTRIS-Baciman. 

Marsh-Hare. 

PLATE  XVIII.-Male  and  Female. 

L  corpore  supra  flavo-fuscente,  subtus  griseo,  L.  sylvatico  min<.re 
aunbus  capite  in  multum  brevioribus,  oculis  aliquantulum  parvis  cauda 
brevissima,  cruribus  curtis  varipilis. 

CHARACTERg. 

Smaller  than  the  gray  rabbit;  ears,  much  shorter  than  the  head;  eyes  ra- 
ther  small;  tail  very  short;  legs,  short;  feet,  thinly  clothed  ^oith  hair; 
upper  parts  of  body,  yellowish-brown;  beneath,  gray. 

SYNONYMES. 

'"'"JZl^"^  Bach     Jour.  Acud.  of  Natural  Science.,  Philadelplua.  vol.  vii.. 

pp.  194,  366,  read  May  10,  ISJiC.  ' 

Upi-s  BouaLAssii.  Gniy,  read,  Zoological  Society,  London,  Nov.  18.37 
Le-us  1  A,.U8TUi8,  Audubon-Birds  of  America,  first  edition-pounced  upon  by  the 

common  buzzard,  (Buteo  vulgaris.)     Ornithological  Biography,  vol.  iv.,  p.Vlo! 

,      DESCRIPTION. 

tipper  incisors,  longer  and  broader  than  tho.se  of  the  gray  rabbit,  mark- 
ed like  all  the  rest  of  the  genus  with  a  deep  longitudinal  furrow;  the 
small  acces.sory  incisors  are  smaller  and  less  flattened  than  those  of  the 
gray  rabbit,  the  molars  are  narrower,  and  a  little  shorter.  The  trans- 
verse measurement  of  the  cranium  is  much  smaller,  the  vertical  about 
equal.     (Jrbits  of  tne  eyes  one-third  smaller. 

This  last  Is  a  staking  peculiarity,  giving  this  a  smaller  and  less 
prominent  eye  than  that  of  any  other  American  hare  of  equal  size  with 
which  we  are  acquainted. 

The  zygomat-c  processes  of  the  temporal  bone  run  downwards  nearly 
...  a  vertical  line,  wnilst  those  of  the  gray  rabbit  are  almost  horizontnl 
Head,  rather  largo,  Ibrehead,  sligh.Iy  arehe.I ;  whiskers  numerous,  rigi.h 
nose,  bmnt;  eyes,  rather  small;  ears,  short,  rounded,  broad,  clothed  on' 
Kolb  sunaces   with  .hort  hairs.      Neck,   moderately    long;   bo<iy.  short 


l.V> 


MAUSII-IIAUK. 


Il»'-k.  nnd  „r  rnlhnr  a  rhimsy  ,sl,i,|),>;  liairn.  n.llirr  I.m.k  „„,1  ,„„,.h  ooarN.T 
llwiM  (lies..  „r  tl„.  o,.,,y  nil.l.il.  L,-s,  short,  and  ralli.T  small;  ('..,•(,  ho 
fhiniy  clollic!  with  Imir.  thai  llu'  nails  in  uiosr  oC  (he  spccinnMis  arc  not 
fovrrni,  hut  projc.-l  lu-yond  llir  hair;  fim  \\>ri  jravr  a  dislin.-l  inipr-s- 
sidii  (>r  t!.i'  to,>v  ,,nd  daws  on  tlii>  nnid  or  in  moist  placrs  wlicrc  tlu-ir 
ti.icks  can  I.,,  sn-n.  II.m>I.  short,  thiidy  rovcir.l  uitli  hair;  nails.  Ioiik. 
stont.  and  v.«ry  a.-uir  ;  tail,  slant;  scan-rly  visil.lr  whilst,  the  animal  i^i 
ni'ining. 

roi.otiR. 

Troth.  yi'Ilowish-whitc;  cyos.  (hirk-hrown.  appoarinK  i"  r(M-taiii  lif,'hts 
<]uit.<  l.la.-k.     I'pprr  part  of  il..-  iifa<l.  hrown,  and  ^rayisli-ash.      Anamd 

II"'   «>rl)ils  of  lh.«   .'vrs.    sli!;litly    fawn-col vd  :    whisk.-rs.    black;  cars, 

dark  Krayish-im.wn.  Hack,  whole  upper-parts,  an<l  tippcr-surfacc  of  iIm! 
tail,  ycliowish-hrown  intermixed  with  many  stronj,'  l.lack  hairs.  'I'he 
hairs,  when  examined  siniily.  an-  l)lnish-^,r,.,,y  ,„  ,i„.  ,.„„,^^  ,|„,„  |j^,,„. 
l)rown.  and  an-  lipped  witli  hiack.  Throat,  hrownish-Kray.  Outer- 
surface  of  fore-Iei-s.  and  •ippcr-su,  i'acc  of  tlii^dis,  reddish-yeilow.  Thn 
fur  Ix'n.-ath.  is  linhi  |)hnnheous ;  \mder  the  chin,  pay;  helly,  and 
iiadcrsurfacc  of  tail.  Iii;ht--ray ;  the  fur  beneath,  bluish.  Kiviiifj  il'a  dark 
sellowish-brown  appearance.  rnder-surfacc  of  the  tail,  ash-cohan-, 
ed^vd  with  brown.  Duriii);  wint.«r  the  upp.-r  siu-face  l)ccomes  consider- 
ably thirker  than  in  sunnner,  and  tlic  undcr-parls  of  llio  tail  in  a  few  spe- 
ciuuMis  become  nearly  white. 


niMKNHIONIS. 

A  specimen  in  the  llcsh. 

l.enirth  from  point  of  nose  to  insertion  of  tail 

do.     of  tail,  (verfel)ra\) 

do.  do.  do.  iiv  ludiny;  fur 

Heiirhl  from  end  of  middle  chiw  to  lop  of  slionlder 

Lenirfh  of  head 

do.  ears      ---... 

do.  hind-foot       ....  . 

Weif,'ht,  'Jl  lbs. 


I'i  inches 

I 

t« 

\i 

ftt 

7 

it 

3i 

«< 

2i 

4« 

a 

41 

UAiin's. 

The  Marsh-Hare  chielly  conlincs  itself  to  the  maritime  distri,  Is  of  tlm 

southern  States,  and  is  ixeiiiM-ally  found  in  low  marshy  grounds  tiiat  arn 

sometimes  partially  iiuuulal.'d.  n.<ar  rivers  sul)ject  to  frcslwts  that  occa- 

sioiiallv  overllow  their  baidvs.  or  near  the  larne  p.aids  called  in  Carolina 


MAUSH-irAIM;. 


i.'>;3 


••rcsnrvos,-  which  an,  du,ru„«,|  up  or  ,„,h„rwiHn  ,„,«h,  to  retain  .l„    «, 

"";"":■'"'•••'  •••  """••  ""•  '•--'-•••''5h  at  th.  proper  ..son  "" 

'n  H...S,.  ,si,„.ai„„H-,o  whi,.h  C.w  p,.rsn„M  lik.  to  re.so.t.  „n  account  of 

::::';"'"■;■  '"'•":'  ^'■""""' """  ••-  "'""^  ^'-"y  -"  --^i^ 

V.     s..„    ,.,h..r  ol.s,ruc..ons  M.at  hI.,.„,..|  n.-ar  ,'...„, ;  ...,1  which   h.-sid.  s 

"'!;; ">'  •""-'•'  '•••""  "-■•  ><'-Kn.u.t  wutcrs  a  noxic.us  vapon     w    c h 

..y  ....crates  .nscasc     sur. .,  ,„  ..„,  watcr-saakci  an,/ ^^  ^^ 

.  .  ..s  specs  rc,s..h.s  th,-oa,.ho.,t  the  year,   rarely   u.oh,s,,c,l   hy  man 
-•'  ••"'•:■'•  »»y  ..H  .upmric  hahits  ,,<.  „.aiu,  up  lor  any   want  o.  snood 

IJ.  wi...ls  with  ,rcat  facility  through  n.iry  pools,  and  n.arshcs  overgrown 
w..,h  ran  weeds  and  willow  hushes,  ar.d  is  <putc  at  its  case  TnZ 
honu,  ,n  the  u.ost  ho,.,.y  and  .n.salc  parts  of  the  swa,nps 

Wc  have  u.ct  with  this  aniu.al  a.  few  miles  from  'columhia  South 
Onrohna    one  lumd.ed  and  twenty  u.iics  north  of  (.'harleston    al  ,n.M  e 

;r*";\ '-  ;'■;•'••   ^••'^'^"^''    -•'-  "'..I   ."-sh,.s;   hut  on   'a       i   .1 

peai-,  It  IS  no  lon>{cr  to  he  lound.  ' 

r..  Ks  n.oven.ent,s  it  is  .u.like  u.ost  of  our  other  hares;  it  runs  low  on 

.l-piny.  FM-o,n  the  shortn,.ss  of  its  Ie«s  a„d  cars,  and  its  general  cLnsv 
a,,>nu.anco  as  wcsecit  sHashin.  through  the  mud  and  mire,  or  pZ^ 
m.  u,to  creaks  or  pond„.  it  son.cwhat  ren.in.ls  us  of  an  ovor-^rowi  Nor- 
way rat  ..n.!eavo,jrinff  to  (vscapn  from  its  pursuers 

The  Marsh-Ilar-e  is  so  slow  of  f,K,t.  that  hut  for  thr,  protection  affonird 
.t  I'y    l-  .nn,v  tangled  a,.d  thorny  character  of  its  usuil  ha.mts,  Twol 
on  he  overtaken  a,.d  eau«ht  hy  any  do.  of  moderate  speed      WeTa 
-rvcl    he  ne,r..s  of  a  plantation  on  a  holiday,  kil,.;.,  a  .ood  many 
••  -n   '.y   first,  settin,   tire   to  the   halCdricd  grasses  and    ;ee,ls  in  a 
....shy  p,e,.c  of  .roun,l  d.u-in.  n  conthn.cd  ,lrou,d.t,  when  the  earth  had 
ul.orhe,l  nearly  all  the  moisture  tro.n  it.  and  then  surroundin,  the  pla^ 
w..h  St. cks.n  their  hands,  and  waitin,  ,„.til  the  dames  drov^-  thehar"' 
'••'""  the.r  retreats,  when  they  were  knocked  down  and  secured  as  they 
;;  •;-i>..-.l  to  pass.     Several   «ray-rahhits  ran  out  of  this  place,  hut  the 
"-.  .M   not  attempt  to  stop  then.,   knowing   thcir  superior  s^ced 
-cry  Marsh    fare  th.-.t  appeared  was  heade.l.  and  with  a  loud  who  p  . 
.'poll  on  all  sides  an.l  soou  c-.pture.l  ' 

The  ,;.H  of  the  Marsh-Hare  .re  adn.irahly  adapted  to  its  a.uatic  h. 
.         A  tluc     cover.,,,  of  hair  on  its  feet,  like  that  on  the  solo    of  othe. 
T      :-   :;""  '"■  ""•""-"-•"  ••  M.C.    would  uot  onlv  he  kept   wet  fo 


151 


MARSII-IIAUK. 


! 


(JiiJidniprds  (hat,  frequent  the  water,  such  as  (ho  heaver,  otter,  musk-iat, 
iniiik,  »!tc..  and  U()ualie  hirds,  liave  nearly  naked  pahns;  and  it  is  this  pe- 
culiar structure,  together  with  the  power  of  spreadiii},'  out  its  feet,  and 
thus  increasing  the  space  hetween  each  of  its  toes,  (hat  enahles  this  ani- 
mal to  swim  with  ^reat  ease  and  rapi(nty.  lis  (rack  when  ohserved 
in  moist  or  nuiddy  situations  differs  very  uuicii  from  (hat  of  other  species. 
Its  (ocs  are  spread  out,  each  leaving  a  dis(inet  impression  like  those  of 
the  rat.  Some  of  the  luvhits  of  this  Han^  dilfer  >,M'eatly  from  those  of 
others  of  the  penus;  it  seeks  the  water,  not  only  in  order  the  easier  to 
escape  from  i(s  pursuers,  hut  when  in  spordvt^  mood;  and  a  sdan^M-r  in 
Carolina  should  he  accidentally  see  one  amusiiij,'  iiself  i)y  swinnnin;,' 
about,  if  unacquainted  witli  the  habits  of  tin;  animal,  would  be  puzzled 
by  its  manu>uvres. 

When  the  Marsli-Hare  is  startled  by  the  approach  of  danger,  instead 
of  direct ini?  its  (lisiht  toward  hiu:h  f,M-ounds  like  the  y:ray  rabbit,  it  hastens 
to  the  thickest  part  of  the  marsh,  or  plmifjes  into  some  stream, 
mill-pond,  or  "reserve,"  and  very  olien  stops  and  conceals  itself  where 
the  water  is  nuiny  feet  deep,  auionjif  the  leaves  of  lilies  or  other  acpia- 
tie  plants. 

Alter  a  heavy  rain  had  produced  a  Hood,  which  immdated  some  swamps 
and  rice-fields  near  us,  we  sallied  forth  to  see  what  had  bccoiiu'  of  tim 
Marsh- Ha  res:  and  on  beatinp  the  bushes,  we  started  many  of  them  wliieh 
ran  from  their  hiding  places,  plunged  into  the  water,  and  swam  ofT  with 
such  rapidity  that  some  escaped  from  an  active  ^'ewfoun(llaIld  d«^'  that 
we  had  with  us.  8ev(>ral  of  them,  supposing,'  they  were  unobserved,  tiid 
themselves  in  the  water,  about  fiOeen  yards  from  the  shore,  protrndinj,' 
only  their  eyes  and  the  point  of  their  nose  above  the  surface;  when  iIiuh 
almost  entirely  under  the  muddy  water,  with  their  ears  pressed  back  and 
flat  asjainst  their  neck,  they  could  scarcely  b(>  discovered.  On  rouchiii'^ 
them  with  a  stick,  they  seemed  unwilling:  to  move  until  they  perceived 
that  they  wt>r(>  observed,  when  they  swam  oil'  with  great  celerity. 

A  few  eveninfjjs  atVerwards  when  the  waters  had  subsided  and  returned 
to  their  ordinary  channels,  we  saw  a  jrood  many  of  these  ITares  swiuuuiii},' 
in  places  where  the  water  was  seven  or  eii;ht  feet  deep,  meetiMf,'.  or  pur- 
suing each  other,  as  if  ii\  sport,  and  evidently  enjoying  themf^clvcs. 

When  (he  gray-rabbit  approaches  (he  wa(er.  i(  griicrally  goes  aromul 
or  leaps  over  it,  bu(  (lie  Marsh-Hare  en(ers  it  readily  and  swims  across. 

We  have  on  a   few  occasions  seen   this   Hare   take  to  a  hollow   Ircii 
when  hard  pressed  by  dogs,  but  (as  we  have  Just  remarked)  it  usuailv 
depends  more   tor  its   safety  on  reaching  inar»hy  places,  ponds,  or  im 
ponetrable  thickets. 


MAltSII-HAltE. 


155 


This  speoifis  possesses  ii  stronj?  marshy  smell  at  all  times,  even  when 
kept  in  confiiiemei.t  and  led  on  the  choicest  food.  Its  flesh,  however, 
altlioii«h  dark,  is  fully  (■(lual  if  not  superior  to  that  of  tlie  gray  rabbit. 

The  Marsh-Han,  ii.n'.;r,  (Imt,  we  are  auar.M)i;  visits  {rarde.is  or  eulti- 
vated  fields,  but  confines  itscdf  ihroiiKhoiit  tla,  year  to  tlu,  marshes.  It  is 
occasionally  fo.md  in  places  overflowed  by  salt:,  or  brackish,  water,  but 
seems  to  jjrcder  fresh-water  marshes,  where  its  food  can  be  inost  conve- 
niently olitained.  It  feeds  on  various  grasses,  and  gnaws  off  (he  twigs  of 
tlie  young  sassafras,  and  of  tlu;  pond-spice  {hiurus  fr,.nir.ulata.)  We  have 
seen  many  places  in  the  low  grounds  dug  up,  the  foot-j)rints  iudicatin- 
that  it  was  the  work  of  (his  species  in  search  of  roots.  It  frequontly  is 
found  digging  for  the  bulbs  of  the  wild  potatoe,  (.l;,,^  iberosa,)  as  also 
for  (hose  of  a  small  spin-ies  of  amaryllis,  {Amfirf/l/is  alamasc.o.) 

We  kept  an  individual  of  this  species  in  confin.iment,  which  had  be(m 
captured  when  full-grown.  It  became  so  gentle  in  a  few  days  that  it 
freely  took  its  food  from  the  hand.  It  was  fed  on  (urnips  and  "cabbage- 
leaves,  but  i)referre(l  bread  to  any  oth,.r  food  that  was  offered  to  it.  In 
warm  veath.-r  it  was  fond  of  lying  for  hours  in  a  trough  of  water,  and 
seem.-d  restless  and  uneasy  when  it  was  removed:  scratching  at  the 
sides  of  its  cage  until  the  trough  was  re.dacd,  wh.Mi  it  immediately 
plunged  m,  burying  the  great<>r  part  of  its  body  in  the  water. 

This    species,    like    all   others  of  the    genus   existing  in  this   country, 
as  well  as  (he  de.T  and  s(iuirrels,  is  infested  with  a  troublesome  lar\a' 
of  an  oestrus  in  the  summer  and  autumn;  which  pcsnetrating  into  the  flesh 
and  eo.itituially  enlarging,  causes  pain  to  the  animal  and  renders  it  loan. 
'file  Marsh-ll.ire  deposits  its  young  in  a  pretty  large  nest,  frequently 
composed  of  a  species  of  rush,  {Jumms  r//-M.v;/.v,)"  growing  in   convenient 
■situations      The  rushes  appear  to  be  cm  by  it  into  pieces  of  about  a  foot 
in  length.     We  have  seen  these  nests  nearly  tturrounded  by,  and  almost 
floating  on  the  water.     Tli.'v  were  generally  arched  liy  carefully  bending 
the  rushes  or  grasses  over  them,  admitting  the  mother  by  a  pretty  large 
hole  in  the  side.     A  consideiabh;  (|uantity  of  hair  wa,<  (bund  lining  them, 
but  wli<«tlier  plucked  out  by  the  parent,  or  the  result  of  the  natural  shed- 
ding of  their   coat,    (it   being    late    in   the    spring    when    these    animals 
shed  their  hair,)  we  wen>  unai)le  to  ascertain. 

The  young  nun.ber  from  five  to  seven.  They  evidently  breed  several 
times  in  [\w  season,  but  we  have  observed  that  tlie  females  asually 
produce  their  young  at  least  a  month  la(er  than  the  gray  rabbit. 
Tw. '■.',• -one  specimens  were  obtained  from  the  (Xli  (o  (h(!  IKli  day  of 
Ai)ril;  none  of  the  females  had  produced  young  that  season,  although 
some  of  them  would  have  done  so  in  a  very  few  days.     On  one  occasior 


150 


MAUSII-JIAHE. 


only,  have  we  seen  the  young  in  M.-.rdi.  Tli.y  l.cur  a  strong  reseinl.lancf 
to  the  adult,  and  may  almost  .-..t  a  «ian<M-  i.<>  distir.guishi'd  from  those  ot 
•  lie  gray  rabbit. 

liK.IICKArilK'AI,    msl'HlllliTION. 

Jlw  Marsh-IIare  has  been  s».M>n  as  liir  north  us  the  swamjjs  of  I  he 
M)ulh.'rn  pans  of  North  Carolina.  Jn  South  Carolina,  it  is  i.,  some  lo- 
calities <iuit.'  num.^rous.  Nearly  all  the  muddy  swami)s  aiul  marshes 
abound  with  it.  We  have  known  two  jxMsons  kill  twenty  in  llie 
course  of  a  few  hours. 

In  high  grounds  it  is  never  seen;  it  eontinues  to  increase  in  numbers 
as  we  proceed  .southwardly.  It  is  al.undant  in  the  swamps  of  Georgia, 
Alabama,  am!  Louisiana.  We  received  a  living  sj)ecimen  Irom  Key 
West,  the  southern  point  of  Florida.  We  have  .seen  it  in  Texas,  from 
whence  the  specimen  described  by  (Ikav  was  brought,  and  we  are  in- 
clined to  believe  that  it  will  be  found  to  .xtend  into  the,  northern  part  ol 
Mexico. 


(JI'.NI'.RAI,    Kii;MAKKB. 

As  a  remarkable  instance  of  a  species  eonlimiing  to  exist  in  a  thickly 
settled  country  without  having  tbund  its  way  into  scientific  works,  we 
may  refer  to  this  very  common  hare.  We  obtained  specimens  in  Caro- 
lina in  the  spring  of  IHl.'V.  If.  was  called  by  the  inhabitants  by  the  names 
of  Swjunp,  and  Marsh,  Hare,  and  generally  supposed  to  be  only  a  variety 
of  the  gray  rabbit.  W(>  did  not  publish  a  descrii)tion  of  the  species  until 
18.-u;.  In  the  following  year,  Gray,  who  had  not  th.^n  seen  the  Transac- 
tions of  the  Acad  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia,  in  which  our  de- 
scription was  contained,  described  it  undi^r  the  nam.)  of  Lrpus  Doiiglnssii. 
This  species  may  always  be  distinguished  Iron-,  our  other  hares  by  its 
oolour.  its  rather  short  and  broad  ears,  its  short  tail,  which  is  never  pure 
vvliite  beneath,  by  its  narrow  hind-feet,  and  by  its  aquatic  babits. 


157 


SCIURUS   MOLLII>ILOSUS.-AuD.  anhB 

SoFT-IlArRED    SuiJIRREL. 


4CII. 


PLATE  XIX. 


S.  canda  corpore  curtiore;  dorso  fusco;  iliis  partibusque  coUi  latcrali 
bus  nifis ;  a})domine  cinereo. 


CIIARACTKKH. 


Tail,  shorter  than  the  body;  hack,  dark  hrown ;  sides  of  the  neck    ana 
ff<"'ks,  rufous ;  under  surface,  dncrcous. 


HVNONVMK. 

*'";;s.."oT".e;r;:  r  ■ "'  '"•■■ '°™"'  *»"• »'  "»•■  ^"•"--  "•■'*'■ 

DESCRIPTION. 

A  little  larger  than  the  chiekaree.  (S.  Hudsonius;)  head,  rather  large, 
sbghtly  arehed;  ears,  round,  broad,  but  not  hi.h,   elothed  on  the  o„fe 
and^inner  surfaces  with  short,  smooth  hairs;   whiskers,   longer  than  the 

In  form  this  species  does  not  approach  the  Tam.^:,  as  .V.  Hudscu.us  doe, 
.n  some  d..gree:  ^,  on  the  contrary,  very  much  resembles  the  Caroli,^. 
gray-s.,mrr,.l,  S.  Carolinensis,  which  is  only  an  ir.ch  longer 

Legs,  robust;  toes,  rather  long;  nail.,  compressed,  arched;  t.q  bushy 
but  apparently  not  distichous,  as  far  as  can  be  Ju.lged  from  the  dri/d' 
.pecmen;  hairs  of  the  tail  about  as  long  as  those  of  the  Carolina  gray- 
.qu.rrel.     The  hairs  on  the  whole  of  ,he  body  are  sofV,  and  very  .mooth. 

<'ni,()nii. 

Teeth,  light  yellow;  upper  parts,  inleuding  the  nos,-,  ears,  and  outer 
surface  ol  the  tail,  dark-brown ;  this  colour  is  produced  by  the  hairs  being 
l>  umbeous  at  th..  roots,  tipped  withiight-brown  and  bla^k.  On  the  sides 
ol  the  neck,  the  shoulder,  and  near  the  thighs,  it  is  of  a  reddish-brown 
colour.     Ihc  ta.1  ,s  brown,  twice  annulated   with  bhick ;  a  few  of  the 


ir)8 


fSOF'l-HAlREI)  SCilJIUKKL. 


Iiiiirs  are  tipped  with  ^ray.  On  the  under  surfaee,  (lie  lips  and  ehin  arc 
prayish-brown ;  inner  siirliice  of  iIk;  I'ore-lejjjs,  throiil,  and  alxloiner', 
"inereoiis,  li{?iiliy  tinged  in  some  i)iaeeM  wilii  riiloiis. 


niMKNHIONH. 


Len^lii  ot'liead  and  body 
"       of  tail  (vertebra') 

"         to  end  of  hair 
Height  of  ear 
From  heel  to  end  of  nail 


Inchee.  Line*. 

H  i\ 

7  0 

0  5 

2  1 


HAniTB. 

This  species  was  procured  in  Upper  California,  near  the  Pacdfic  oct^an, 
and  we  are  obliged  to  eoid'ess  ourselves  entirely  iinac(|iiainted  with  its 
habits.  From  its  form,  however,  we  have  no  doubt  of  its  having  more 
the  matmers  of  the  (^arolinu  gray-sciuirrel  than  those  of  the  chickaree. 
We  may  suppose  that  it  lives  on  treys,  and  never  burrows  in  the  ground, 
as  the  chickaree  sometimes  does. 

GKoouArnn  Ai,  histkuiut'on. 

Our  specimens  were  obtained  in  the  northern  part  of  California,  near 
the  Pacific  ocean. 


GENEHAL    Ul'.MARKH, 

This  species  <li(rers  so  widely  in  all  its  details  from  S.  Hunsonms,  that 
it  is  scarcely  necessary  to  point  out  the  distinctive  marks  by  whch  it  is 
."^eparattnl  from  the  latt(>r.  The  s|)ace  occupied  by  the  lighte  ct  lours  on 
the  und(>r  surface  is  nuich  narrower  than  in  N.  lfu(lsonith<,  and  there  is 
not,  as  in  that  species,  any  black  line  of  separation  between  the  colours 
of  the  back  and  under  surface. 


159 


TAMIAS    TOWNsj.:NI)II._|Ucn. 

ToWNHKNI.'h    (iKOIJND-SuolKliei,. 

I'l^ATK  XX. 

'■2'>'!Z2,:z2r"'rT'- ""'- «" -■ • 

A^j'Nun  iniiKiiuudiiK!  siijxsniiiH. 

CHARACTERH. 

A  Huh  larger  than   Tamtm  Lmhri  •  tail  m„rh  l 
'lush,  „rUo,ri.sh.f.ro,nn    with    ftJJ    ,'  r  ^^^"'''   "'''"''  •'"^^'"■«' 


HVNONVMK. 


''""'<^'Sirr    '"T""'"  ^*^"""''  ^'''"'-''  •'--"  Acad.  .,,■  N 
tts.  1  hiliidelplua,  vol.  VIII.,  puit  ),  iH;ti,.  ^^ 


titurul  fcicien- 


IIEHCRII'TIO.V. 

».T....n  .L,;;«!,:;:;;t"  :,,;■':;::;.  ;"™r""''  ?"  '■■""-■ - 

:;■■■  »-■•-,  0,,.,;;;;:;;:,';::  ,;';:;7'  ;:t,n  ""'"'"" 

/-<  ,  un.s,  lonf,',  tlie  (orr-lcet  have  four  toi'^    wiO.  n  i- 

COLOUR. 

Tneth,  (lark  omnL'e;  whiskers  hl-ipk.  n  i;„      /•<■ 

ovtr  the  e>..brow.s.  a.ul  (ermi.utfes  a  little  beyond 


I()0 


TOWNSKND'S  llKOlIND-SUUIItHEL. 


Ilicin  in  II  point  rl'  Ii;,'litt'r  colmir;  ii  patcli  of  ii  siinilar  colour  commences 
under  (lie  cyc-lids,  and  running  alonp;  llic  checks,  tcriniiialcs  nf  llie  eiir. 

A  lino  of  dark  l)ro\vn,  coniinciicin^'  at  llic  IrriiiiMation  of  tlic  nose, 
wlicre  it  Cornis  a  point,  and  liordcrin;;  the  law  n-colonr  ahovi',  is  ^riadually 
blcndi'd  willi  tlic  ccdoiiis  of  tlic  licad ;  fur  on  tlic  outer  siu'faee  of  tiio  ear, 
brown  on  tlie  anterior  parts,  with  a  patch  of  white  coverinj;  about,  one- 
I'ourth  of  tlie  ear.  On  the  posterior  part  of  tlie  car  there  is  a  siij!;ii),  cine- 
reous tint  about  six  lines  in  Icn^tJi,  tcrininatiufj  near  tin?  siioulder.  A 
black  stripe  conuiuMiccs  on  tiic  hind  jjart  of  tiie  head  and  runs  over  the 
ceuire  <if  tlie  i)ack,  where  it  spreads  out  to  tiie  width  of  four  lines,  l«Mini- 
nntinp;  in  a  point  at  the  insertion  of  the  tail;  a  line  of  the  same  colour 
conunences  at  the  shoulders,  and  ruiniin^  ]mriillel  to  the  first,  tenninatfts 
H  little  beyond  the  hii)s ;  another,  but  narrower  and  shorter  line  of  black 
runs  parallel  with  this,  low  down  on  the  sides,  ^'ivin^i  it  live  black  stripes 
abeut  eiiui-distant  from  eacli  otln-r.  On  the  throat,  belly,  and  inner  |)urls 
of  the  Iciis  and  thiiihs,  the  colour  is  li;jli^  cinereous;  there  is  in»  line  ol 
seperati')!!  between  the  coi<nn's  of  the  back  and  belly.  The  tail  is,  on  the 
upjH'r  surface,  urayish-black,  haviuff  a  hoary  a])|)earance.  Underneath, 
if  is  reddish-brewn  for  fwinthirds  of  its  breadth,  then  a  narrow  line  -n 
black,  tipped  with  light  ash.     Nails,  brown. 


inMEN»<ioNa. 


Inchra. 

Line* 

(S 

!) 

1 

.; 

5 

0 

y 

0 

(t 

({ 

1 

G 

Length  of  head  and  body 
"  tail  (vertebra') 

"  "     includins;  fur    - 

*•  head 

Ileijiht  of  ear        ... 

Length  from  heel  to  en  '  of  nail 


IlAlUTa. 

No  doubt  the  ditlerent  species  of  this  genus  arc  ns  uniform  in  the  * 
habits  as  the  true  squirrels.  They  are  usually  found  sealed  low,  on 
stumps  or  rocks,  at  the  roots  of  or  near  which  they  have  th(>ir  burrow: 
Their  chei'k-pouchcs  enable  them  to  carry  to  these  hi(iing-])laces,  nuts, 
grains,  tS:c..  to  serve  tliein  for  food  in  winter.  Mr.  Townsenh.  wlio  pro- 
cuhmI  the  sp(>cinienfi  from  which  we  have  drawn  up  our  descript'on,  co- 
serve;-,  "'!"his  pretty  little  fellow,  so  much  resembHug  o'li  connnon  1'. 
xlrititiis,  (Li/Ktcri,)  is  (inite  common;  it  lives  in  holes  in  tiic  ground,  run- 
ning over  your  foot  as  you  traverse  the  woods.  It  freijuently  perches 
itsell   upon  ,i  log  or  s(iuii|).  .'ind  keeps  up  a  continual  clucking,   vvhicl:  is 


\  . 


TOWNSKND'S  nMOllND-SCilllKREL. 


161 


usually  answoml  hy  a„oth,.r  at  sorr...  ,\\sUmo^,  for  a  consi.lonihle   timr 
hnr  not.  ho  much  r..s,.,nhl,.s  tl.at  of  ,1...  ,|,,sky  Krou.s...  {Trlrao  oh,cnrns) 
that  I  have  moro  ;,haii  onr.-  Ixcn  deceived  l)y  if." 

OROCiRArillCAI.    DrRTRinUriON. 

W.,  hav„  ncani  <,C  tl.is  sprcu-s  an  rxistinj,-  fro.n  tl.n  37tr,  to  the  4r,tl. 
.IrKH.,.  of  Ialitu.1,.,  on  ll,,.  Kooky  M..untains.  ft  prol,ahly  ,lo,.s  not  ox.on.l 
to  the  castwanl  of  that  rhain.  as  w.,  Haw  nothing,  of  it  o„  .,„,  i„t,.  ,.  ,.. 
'Iition  up  the  Missouri  river,  to  the  mouth  of  the  Y(dh)w-Stonc,  &c. 

OKWRRAI.    RKMARKR. 

The  markings  of  this  Ground-Sqnirrei  diffrr  widely  from  those  of  any 
other   known    speeies.       From    Tomias   Lysfcri  it   .lifTers    eonsiderabiy 
.o.n^.  htr;,er   and   having'  a  mueh    h.n.^er  tail ;    it  has  a    white   patch 
f'Hiind  the  ear,  ,>nd  einereons  markings  „n  Ih.-  neck,  of  whieh  the  latter 
.s  destitute;  the  ears  are  a  .hird  lon^^er  than  in  T.  Ly.tcri.     The  stripes 
on  the  hack  are  also  very  differently  arransed.     I,,  TavUm  Lystcri  there 
IS  fn-st  a  black  dorsal  strip..,  then  a  space  of  grayish-brown,  half  an  inch 
wid.-,  then  two  shorter  stripes,  within  two  lines  of  each  other;   which 
•larrow  intervening  portion  is  yellowish-white.     The  stripes  in  the  pre 
sent  species  arc  at  a  uniform  distance  fro.n  each  other,  the  dorsal  one 
runnn.K  to  the  tail;   whereas,  in  the  other  it  does  not  reach  within  an 
mch  of  It,  and  the  interveninff  spaces  arc  fill.;d  up  by  a  uniform  colour 
This  species  has  not  the  whitish  stripes  on  the  sides,  nor  the  rufous  colour 
on  the  hips,  wluch  are  so  conspicuous  in  T.  Lysteri. 


31 


1&2 


VUT.PES   VIRGINIAN  US .— SciiRpnEft 

Gray  Fox. 

PLATE  XXI.— MALI. 

V   sriseo  niRroque  variegatus,  lateribus  et  partibus  colli  latoralibus 
tV'.vis,  genis  nigris, 

CHARACTERS. 

(rrni/,  varied  with  Mack,  sidrs  of  neck  and  flank,  ful;'ou,t ;  fdaak  on  tin- 
Hides  of  the  face  between  the  eye  and  nose. 


PYN11NVME8. 

Fox  OF  Carolina,  Lawson,  Car.,  p.  125. 
Gray  Fox,  Catcsby,  Car.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  78,  fig.  C. 

"     Pennant,  Synop.,  p.  167,  114. 
Canis  Vir<!inianls,  Scliit'bor,  SUugothiere,  p.  301,  10  to  92  n,  1775. 

"  "  Erxlcben,  Wyst.,  p.  667,  10,  1777. 

"  "  Linn.,  Syst.  Nat.,  ed.  Gmel.,  vol.  i.,  p.  71,  10.  1788. 

"      Cinkrko-Aroentel's,  Erxlebt'n,  Syst.,  p.  570,  0. 

"      CiNEKEO-AiujENTATi-.s,  Say,  Long'.'!  Exp.'ditinn,  vul.  ii,,  ji.  .lu). 

"      ViRoiNiANus,  Dcsm.,  Mamm.,  p.  204. 

"      CiNEKKO-Aur.ENTATis,  Godnian,  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  i.,  p.  280.  Kg  '.' 

"      (Vlili'es)  Vikoiniams,  Rich.,  F.  Boreali  A.,  p.  90. 
Vui.PES  ViRGiNiANVs,  Dckay,  Nat.  Hist,  of  New- York,  p.  45. 

1)ES(;ription. 

Head,  considerably  broad(>r  and  shorter  than  that  of  the  red  fox,  {Vul. 
pes  fuhiis;)  nose,  also  shorter,  and  a  little  more  pointed;  teeth,  not  so 
stout;  ears,  a  little  longti-  than  in  the  ■  v.-r  animal,  of  an  oval  shape, 
and  thickly  clothed  ->vith  hair  on  hoih  surfaces;  whiskers',  half  the 
length  of  the  head  Body,  rather  thick.,!-  aud  more  clumsy  in  appearance 
than  that  of  either  the  swift  fox,  {V.  vclox,)  or  the  red  fox;  fur,  mueli 
coarser  than  that  of  the  other  species.  Legs,  rather  long;  nails,  strong, 
slightly  arched,  visible  beyond  the  fuv;  soles,  with  five  stout  tubeioles, 
not  clothed  Avith  hair;  tail,  large,  bushy,  clothe  1  like  the  body  with  two 
ki?ids  of  hair;  the  fur,  or  inner  hair,  being  soil  and  woolly,  the  outer 
hairs  longer  and  coarser. 


O^ 


ORAY  FOX. 


163 


COLOUR. 

Th.rc  are  .li^hf  clifr,.rences  in  the  colour  of  difFrrent  spe.ci,n.„s-  vv. 
will,  however,  ^ive  a  description  of  one  which  i.s  of  tlie  colour  most  com- 
mon  to  this  species  in  every  part  of  the  IJnite.l  States.     Ilea.l,  hrownish- 
KHiy ;  n.uzzle,  black;  a  hroa.l  patch  of  dark  brown  runs  from  the  eve  to 
.  u,  nose,  on  each  side  of  the  face;  whiskers,  black  ;  inn.-r  surface  of  ears 
.lul   white  ;  outer  surface  of  ears,  sides  of  neck,  outer  surface  of  (bre-IeR.' 
and  tlwphs.  tawny,  a  yellowish  wash   und.  r  the  threat.  an,l  alon«  the 
sues;  chm.  and  aroun.l  the  mouth,  dark-brown;  cheeks.  th...at.  and  un- 
cer  surface  ol   body,  .lull    white,  occasionally  tinned   with   a     eilowi.^. 
a  e;  un  er  .suHace  of  hind  and  fore-feet,  yellowish-brown;  upper  su- 
(aceof  lee   and  Ie^«,  ^m.Ay  black  and  whi.e;  nails,  dark-brown      The 
so.1  umer  ,ur  on  the  back,  which  is  about  an  inch  and  a  half  Ion.,  .s  , . 
hal.  us  ,en.,h  from  the  root,  plumbeous,  and  pale  yellowish-white  at  th 
tips.     The  Ion,,  haus  wh.ch  .nve  the  .General  colour  to  the  body  above 
are  whUe  at  the.r  roots,  then  for  more  than  a  third  of  their  len.U.  t  k 
hen  wh,e.  and  are  broadly  tipped  wi.h  black.  ,ivin.  the  anim:i  a  hoary 
or    dvergray  appearance.     It  is  darkest  on  the  shoulder,  alon.^  the  back 
and  posteru,r  parts.     The  fur  on  the  tail  has  a  little  more  fulvous  tin  go 
»».-    Imt  oi  t^  back;  the  longer  hairs  are  much  more  broadly  ti,  ped 
-..'.  »>lac  .     When  the  fur  lies  smooth,  there  is.  black  line  aL  i'  t 
"PPor  surface  ol  the  tail  from  the  root  ,o  the  ex.ren.ity ;  end  of  brusl 
Llack.     Some  .specimens  are  a  little  lighter  coloured,  having  a  silver-graJ 
appearance       Specimens  from  the  State  of  x\ew-York  are  rather  more 
lulvous  on  the  neck,  and  darker  on  the  back,  than  those  of  CaroUna       . 

z:^::zT''' '  '^  "-^^^  -'-'  - ''-  ^'^-  «^  ^^^  ^^^^  -^^^  - 

We  possessed  for  many  years  a  beautiful  specimen  of  a  variety  of  the 
Gray  Fox.  wh.ch  was  barred  on  the  tail  like  the  racoon,  and  had  a  dirk 

:e:rrd:dt  BTrJc^  ^'""'^"""  — ^-«^«--:  which  iitte: 

regarded  bx  Baron  Cuv.er  as  a  mere  variety  of  the  European  fox. 


UIMKNSIONS. 


l-ength  of  head  and  body 
of  tail  (vertebroj) 

to  end  of  hair 
Height  of  ear 
From  heel  to  end  of  nai] 


28   inches. 
12i    do. 
14       do. 

2i     do 

fi       do 


164 


GRAY  FOX. 


HABITS. 


Throughout  the  whole  of  our  Atlantic  States,  from  Maine  to  Florida, 
and  westwardly  to  Louisiana  and  Texas,  there  are  but  two  species  ol 
lox  known,  viz.,  the  red  fox,  (F.  fulvus,)  and  the  present  species,  (F,  ]'»>- 
giniantis,)  although  there  are  several  permanent  varieties.  The  former 
ma}  be  regarded  as  a  Northern,  the  latter  as  a  Southern  species.  Whilst 
the  Northern  farmer  looks  upon  the  red  fox  as  a  great  annoyance,  and 
detests  him  as. a  robber  who  is  lying  in  wait  for  his  lambs,  his  turkeys, 
and  his  geese,  the  Gray  Fox,  in  the  eyes  of  the  Southern  planter,  is  the 
object  of  equal  aversion.  To  ourselves,  however,  who  have  witnessed 
the  predatory  dispositions  of  each  in  different  portions  of  our  country,  I* 
appears  that  the  red  fox  is  far  more  to  be  dreaded  than  the  gray;  the 
latter  is  a  pilfering  thief,  the  former  a  more  daring  and  cunning  plun 
derer.  When  they  have  whelps,  the  females  of  both  species,  urged  by  the 
powerful  pleadings  of  their  young,  become  more  bold  and  destructive 
than  at  any  other  time ;  the  red  fox  produces  its  young  very  early  in  the 
season,  sometimes  indeed  whilst  the  snow  is  still  remaining  here  and 
there  in  large  banks  unthawed  on  the  ground,  and  becomes  more  daring 
in  consequence  of  being  stinted  for  food ;  whilst  the  present  species, 
having  its  young  later  when  breeding  in  the  Northern  States,  and  finding 
a  more  abundant  supply  of  food  when  inhabiting  the  Middle  or  Southern 
States,  is  less  urged  by  necessity  to  depredate  on  the  poultry  of  the  planter. 

We  have  never,  indeed,  heard  any  well  authenticated  account  of  this 
species  having  entered  the  poultry-yard  of  the  fan£.er;  it  is  true,  it  will 
seize  on  a  goose,  or  a  turkey  hen,  that  happens  to  stray  into  the  w(>ods 
or  fields  and  make  its  nest  at  some  distance  from  the  house ;  but  we  have 
not  heard  of  its  having  attempted  to  kill  pigs,  or  like  the  red  tbx,  visited 
the  sheep  pasture  in  spring,  and  laid  a  contribution,  from  day  to  day,  on 
the  young  Iambs  of  the  flock. 

The  Gray  Fox  is  shy  and  cowardly,  and  the  snap  of  a  stick  or  the 
barking  of  a  dog  will  set  him  off  on  a  full  run.  Although  timid  and 
suspicious  to  this  degree,  his  cunning  and  voracity  place  him  in  a  con- 
spicuous rank  among  the  animals  that  prey  upon  other  species  weaker 
than  themselves.  The?  wild  turkey  hen  often  makers  an  excavation  in 
which  she  deposits  her  eggs,  at  a  considerable  tlistunce  from  the  low 
grounds,  or  makes  her  nest  on  some  elevaied  ridge,  or  under  a  pile  of 
fallen  logs  covered  over  with  scrub  oaks,  ferns,  tall  weeds  and  grasses ; 
we  have  often  seen  tr.-ices  of  a  violent  struggle  at  such  places;  bunches 
of  feathers  scattered  about,  and  broken  cgg-shelis,  giving  sulficient  evi- 
dence that  the  Fox   has  been  there,  and  that   there   will  be  one  brood 


GRAY  POX. 


165 


r!nM  r,  ?  '  "''•^"-  '^'''''"  «^  P^'-'"J°««-  ^v'»«h  gene- 
rally at  the  dusk  of  tne  evening  fly  into  some  sheltered  place  and  hide 
:n  the  tall  grass,  arrange  then....lves  for  the  night  in  a  circle,  with 
their  tails  touching  each  other  and  their  heads  turned  outward;  the 
Gray  Fox  possessing  a  considerable  power  of  scent,  winds  them  like  a 
pointer  dog  and  often  discovers  where  they  are  thus  snugly  nestled,  and 
pounces  on  them,  invariably  canying  off  at  least  one  of  the  covey 

On  a  cold,  drizzly,  sleety,  rainy  day,  while  travelling  in  Caroiina.  wc 
observed  a  Gray  Fox  in  a  field  of  broom-grass,  coursing  against  the 
wmd  and  hunting  m  the  manner  of  the  pointer  dog.  We  stopped  to  wit- 
ness  nis  manoeuvres:  suddenly  he  stood  still  and  .quatted  low  on  his 
haunches;  a  moment  after  he  proceeded  on  once  more,  but  with  slow 
and  cautious  steps;  at  time,  nis  nose  was  raised  high  in  the  air.  moving 
about  from  side  to  side.  At  length  he  seemed  to  be  sure  of  his  gime  and 
wen  straight  forward,  although  very  slowly,  at  tir  .s  crawlinTon  h 
earth ;  he  was  occasionally  hidden  by  the  grass,  so  that  we  could  not  see 
urn  ve.y  distinctly;  however,  at  length  we  observed  him  make  a  dead 

mt:  b?r  ""  "  T"'"^  "  '"■"""'*''  ""^"'"^"^  "''^'^  ^-''  '^ke  that 
made  by  the  common  house-cat  when  ready  to  make  a  spring  bufhis  tail 

sec^d  resting  on  the  side,  whilst  his  ears  were  drawn  lickt^  ^  I 

aised  ony  a  lew  inches  from  the  eaith ;   he  remained  in  this  attitud 

early  hah  a  minute  and  then  made  a  sudden  pounce  upon  his  prey ;  a 

aff.ighted  birds  took  wing;  two  or  three  sharp  screams  succeeded,  and 
he  successfu    prowler  immediately  passed  out  of  the  field  with  an  imfor- 
tunate  partri.ge  in  his  mouth,  evidently  with  the  intention  of  seeking  a 
rnore  retired  spot  to  make  a  dainty  meal.     We  had  a  gun  with  us    and 
he  passed  within  long  gun-shot  of  us.     But  why  wound  or  destroy 'him  1 
He  has  enabled  us  for  the  first  time  to  bear  witness  that  he  is  not  only  a 
dog  but  a  good  pointer  in  the  bargain;  he  has  obeyed  an  impulse  of  na! 
ture,  and  obtained  a  meal  in  the  manner  in  which  it  was  intended  by  the 
w..e  Creator  that  he  should  be  supplied.     He  seized  onlv  a  single  b 
whilst  man,   who  would  wreak  his  vengeance  on  this  poacher     mg' 
he  game,  is  not  .satisfied  till  he  has  killed  half  the  covey  with  the  mur 
<erous  gun    or  caugl.t  th.  whole  brood  in  a  trap  and  wrung  off  The  r 
necks  in  triumph.     Condemn   not  t),e   Fox  too  hastily;  he  has  a  m." 
strikingly  carnivorous  t.>o,h  than  yourself,  indicating  L  kind  of  fod 
.s  required  to  seek;  betakes  no  wan.on  pleasure  in  destroying  tl     li 
he  ex  ,b.,s  ,o     IS  companions  no  trophies  of  his  ski,.,  and  is^onL::!,' 

^  b ;;:  ,;:^:'"  ^""  -'^ '''''''-  -*  ^^^^^  -^-  y-  capaciou. 


ilMI 


I 


166 


GRAY  FOX 


w-m 


That  this  Fox  occasionally  gives  chase  to  the  gray  mbbi),  pursuinf? 
hiiTi  in  (he  manner  of  the  doy:,  wc  liavc  stronj;  reason  to  suspect.  We  on 
one  occasion  observed  a  iia-H-f^rowii  rabbit  dashing  by  us  with  great  ra- 
pidity, and  ruiuiing  as  if  under  the  influence  of  fear;  an  instant  after 
wirds  a  Fox  followed,  seeming  to  ke»^p  tlu^  object  of  his  |)ursuit  fairly  in 
sight;  scarcely  had  they  entered  the  woods  when  we  heard  the  repeated 
cry  of  the  rabbit,  resembling  somewhat  that  of  a  young  child  in  pain,  and 
although  we  were  not  eye  witnesses  of  his  having  captured  it  by  sheer 
speed,  we  have  no  doubt  of  the  fact.  We  do  not  believe,  however,  that 
the  Fox  is  an  enemy  half  as  much  to  be  dreaded  by  the  family  of  hares 
as  either  the  Hay  lynx,  or  the  great  horned  owl,  {Strix  Vir^inianus.) 

In  the  Southern  States  this  species  is  able  to  supply  itself  with  a  great 
variety  and  abundance  of  food,  and  is  consequently  generally  in  good  con- 
dition and  often  (luite  f:it.  We  have  followed  the  track  of  the  Gray  Fox 
in  moist  ground  until  it  led  us  to  the  scattered  remains  of  a  marsh 
hare,  which  no  doubt  the  Fox  had  killed ;  many  nests  of  the  fresh  water 
marsh  hen  {Rtillus  ckgans)  are  torn  to  pieces  and  the  eggs  devoured  by 
this  ])rowIcr.  In  Pennsylvania  and  New-Jersey,  the  meadow-mouse  \Ar- 
vicolti  I'iiinsi/lrdiiicii)  is  often  eat«!n  by  this  sj)ecies ;  and  in  the  Southern 
States,  the  cotton-rat,  and  Florida  ra.,  constitute  no  inconsiderable  i)or- 
tion  of  its  food.  We  have  seen  places  where  the  Gray  Vox  had  been 
scratching  the  decayed  logs  and  the  bark  of  trees  in  order  to  obtain  in- 
sects. 

This  species  is  not  confined  exclusively  to  animal  food  ;  a  farmer  of  tne 
State  of  New-York  called  our  attention  to  a  field  of  corn,  (maize,)  which 
had  sustained  no  inconsiderable  injury  from  some  unknown  animals  that 
had  been  feeding  on  the  unripe  ears.  The  tracks  in  the  field  convmced 
us  that  the  depredation  had  been  committed  by  Foxes,  which  was  found  *o 
be  the  case,  and  they  were  afterwards  chased  sevenil  successive  mornings, 
and  thice  of  them,  apparently  a  brood  olthe  previous  spring,  were  captured. 

Although  this  Fox  is  nocturnal  in  his  liabits  \vv,  have  fre(iuently  ob- 
served him  in  search  of  food  at  all  hours  of  the  day;  in  general,  how- 
ever, he  lies  concealed  in  some  thicket,  or  in  a  large  tuft  of  tall  broom- 
grass,  till  twilight  invites  him  to  renew  his  travels  and  adventures. 

On  a  cold  starlight  night  in  winter,  we  have  frequently  heard  the 
hoarse  querulous  bark  of  this  species;  sometimes  two  of  them,  some  dis- 
tance apart,  were  answering  each  other  in  the  manner  of  the  dog 

Although  we  iiave  o('((  ti  seen  this  l''ox  fairly  run  down  and  killed  by 
hounds,  without  his  having  attempted  to  climb  a  tr<'e,  y»'t  it  not  nnfre- 
ijuenlly  occurs  that  when  his  strength  begins  to  fail  he  ascends  one  that 
is  small  .)r  sloping,  and  standing  on  soun    horizontal   branch  ViO  or  3(' 


GRAY  FOX. 


167 


feet  from  the  ground,  looks  down  on  the  fierce  and  clamorous  pack  which 
soon  comes  up  and  surrounds  the  foot  of  the  tree.     We  were  on  one  oc- 
casion, in  company  with  a  friend,  sedunfr  (or  partridges  in  an  old  field 
partially  overgrown  with  high  grass  and  bushes,  when  his  large  and  ac- 
tive pointer  dog  suddenly  started  a  Cray  Fox,  which  instantly  took  to  its 
heels,  pursued  by  the  dog:  after  a  race  of  a  minute,  the  latter  was  so  close 
upon  the  Fox  that  it  ascended  a  small  tree,  and  our  friend  soon  came  up, 
and  shot  it.     We  were  unable  to  obtain  any  information  in  regard  to  thJ 
manner  in  which  the  Fox  climbs  trees,  as  he  does  not  possess  the  retrac- 
tile nails  of  the  cat  or  the  sharp  claws  of  the  squirrel,  until  we  saw  the 
animal  in  the  act.     At  one  time  when  we  thus  observed  the  i-'ox,  he  first 
leaped  on  to  a  low  branch  four  o<-  five  feet  from  the  ground,  from'  whence 
he  made  his  way  upwards  by  leaping  cautiously  and  rather  awkwardly 
from  branch  to  branch,  till  he  attained  a  secure  position  in  the  'argest 
fork  of  the  tree,  where  he  stopped.     On  anotlu-r  occasion,  he  ascended 
in  the  manner  of  a  bear,  but  with  far  greater  celerity,  by  clasping  the 
stem  of  a  small  pine.     We  have  sincu;  been  informed  that  the  Fox  also 
climbs  trees  occasionally  by  (he  aid  of  his  claws,  in  the  manner  of  a  ra- 
coon  or  a  cat.     During  win((!r  only  about  one-fifth  of  the  Foxes  chased 
hj  hounds  will   take  to  a  tree  belbre  they  suifer  themselves  to  be  run 
down  ;  but  in  summer,  either  from  the  warmth  of  the  weather  causing 
them  to  be  soon  fatigued,  or  from  the  greater  number  being  young  ani- 
mals, they  seldom  continue  on  foot  beyond  thirty  or  forty  minutes  before 
they  (ly  for  protection  to  a  tree.     It  may  here  be  observed,  that  as  long 
as  the  Fox  can  wind  through  the  thick  underbrush,  he  will  seldom  resort 
to  a  tree,  a  retreat  to  which  he  is  forced  by  open  woods  and  a  hard  chase. 
In  general,  it  may  be  said  that  the  Gray  Fox  digs  no  burrow,  and  does 
not  seek  concealment  in  the  earth ;  we  have,  however,  seen  one  instance 
ro  the  contrary,  in  a  high,  sandy,  pine-ridge  west  of  Albany,  in  the  State 
of  New- York.     We  thi^re  observed  a  burrow  from  which  a  female  Gray 
Fox  and  four  young  were  taken.     It  dillered  widely  from  the  burrows 
of  the  red  fox,  having  only  a  single  entrance.     At  about  eight  feet  from 
the  mouth  of  the  burrow  there  was  an  excavation  containing  a  nest  com- 
posed of  leaves,  in  which  the  young  had  been  deposited.      We  have  on 
^everal   occasions  seen  the  kennel  of  the  Gray  Fox- it  is  usually  in  a 
prostrate  hollow  log;  we  once,  however,  discovered  one  under  the  roots  of 
X  tree.     In  the  State  of  New- York  we  were  shown  a  hollow  tree,  letming 
on  another  at  an  angle  of  about  forty-five  degrees,  from  a  large  hole  in 
which  two  Gray  Foxes  had  been  tak.<n  ;  they  were  traced  to  this  retieat 
by  their  (botsteps  in  the  deep  snow,  and  from  the  appearance  of  the  ues( 
it  seemed  to  have  been  their  resort  for  a  lonir  time. 


1G8 


GRAY  FOX. 


i     I 


This  species,  in  many  parts  of  the  oountrj-  where  caves,  fissures,  or  holes 
in  the  rocks,  offer  it  a  sale  retreat  from  danger,  makes  its  home  in  such 
places.  Some  little  distance  above  the  city  ol"  New-York,  in  the  wild  and 
rocky  woods  on  the  Jersey  side  of  the  Hudson  river,  a  good  many  Gray 
Foxes  abide,  the  number  of  large  fissures  and  holes  in  the  rocks  there- 
abouts furnishing  them  secure  dwelling  places,  or  safe  resorts  in  case 
they  are  pursued.  In  this  neighbourhood  they  are  most  easily  killed  by 
finding  the  paths  to  their  hole,  and,  after  starting  the  animal,  maliing  the 
best  of  your  way  to  near  the  entrance  of  it,  while  he  doubles  about  a  lit- 
tle before  the  dogs ;  you  can  thus  generally  secure  a  shot  at  him  as  he 
approaches  his  home,  which  if  the  dogs  are  near  he  will  do  without  look- 
ing to  see  if  he  be  watched.  The  Gray  Fox  is  frequently  caught  in  steel- 
traps,  and  seems  to  possess  far  less  cunning  than  the  red  species ;  we 
have  never,  however,  seen  it  taken  in  box-traps,  into  which  the  Bay  lynx 
readily  enters ;  and  it  is  not  often  caught  in  dead-falls,  which  are  very 
successful  in  capturing  the  racoon  and  opossum. 

The  Gray  Fox  does  not  possess  the  rank  smell  of  the  red  fox  or  the 
European  fox ;  as  a  pet,  however,  we  have  not  found  him  particularly 
interesting.  It  is  diflicult  to  subdue  the  snappish  disposition  of  this  spe- 
cies, and  we  have  never  seen  one  that  was  more  than  half  tamed.  It 
does  not  at  any  time  become  as  playful  as  the  red  fox,  and  continually 
attempts  to  escape. 

This  species  affords  good  sport  when  chased,  winding  and  doubling 
when  in  favourable  ground,  so  that  when  the  hunter  is  on  foot  even,  he 
can  occasionally  obtain  a  "view,"  and  can  hear  the  cry  of  the  pack  al- 
most all  the  while.  When  started  in  an  open  part  of  the  country  the 
Gray  Fox,  however,  generally  speeds  toward  some  thickly  grown  and 
tangled  retreat,  .and  prefers  the  shelter  and  concealment  of  a  heavy 
growth  of  young  pines  along  some  elevated  sandy  ridge ;  having  gained 
which,  he  threads  along  the  by-paths  and  dashes  through  the  thickets, 
some  of  which  are  so  dense  that  the  dogs  can  hardly  follow  him.  He  docs 
not,  like  the  red  fox,  run  far  ahead  of  the  pack,  hut  generally  courses 
along  from  seventy  to  a  hundred  yards  in  advance  of  his  pursuers. 

We  have  been  told  that  the  Gray  Fox  has  been  run  down  and  caught 
in  the  winter  season,  by  a  remr\rkably  fleet  pack  of  hounds,  in  forty  mi' 
nutes;  but  a  two  hours'  chase  is  generally  necessary,  with  tolerably  good 
dogs,  to  tire  out  and  capture  him.  As  many  as  two  or  three  Foxes  have 
been  occasionally  caught  on  the  same  day  by  one  pack  of  hounds :  but  in 
most  cases  both  hunters  and  dogs  are  quite  willing  to  give  over  for  the 
day,  after  they  have  captured  one. 


GRAY  FOX. 


160 


From  Maryland  to  Florida,  and  farther  wes^  through  Alabama  to  Miv 
siss.pp,  a.nd  Louisiana,  fox-hunting,  next  to  deer-hunting,  is  the  favourite 
amusement  of  sportsmen,  and  the  chase  of  that  animal  may  in  fact  be 
regarded  exclusively  as  a  Southern  sport  in  the  United  States,  as  we  be-' 
I.eve  the  fox  IS  never  followed  on  horseback  in  the  Northern  portions  of 
our  country,  where  the  roeky  and  precipitous  character  of  the  surface  in 
many  chstncts  prevents  the  best  riders  from  attempting  it ;  whilst  in  others, 
our  sturdy  mJependent  formers  would  not  much  like  to  see  a  dozen  or 
more  horsemen  leaping  their  fences,  and  with  break-neek  speed  galloping 
through  the  wheat-fields  or  other  "fall"  crops.      Besides,  the  red  fox 
«'h.ch  IS  more  generally  fbund  in  the  Northern  States  than  the  Gray  spe- 
cies   runs  so  far  before  the  dogs  that  he  is  seldom  seen,  although  the 
hun.sn.en  keep  up  with  the  pack,  and  after  a  chase  of  ten  miles,  daring 
vvh.oh  he  m.-w  not  have  been  once  in  view,  he  perhaps  takes  refuge  in  some 
deep  fissure  of   a  rock  or  in  an  impenetrable  burrow,  which  of  course 
ends  the  sport  very  much  to  the  satisfaction  of— the  Fox ' 

In  the  Southern  States  or,  the  contrary,  the  ground  is  in  manv  cases 
lavoumble  lor  this  amusement,  and  the  planter  sustains  but  liMle  in- 
jury from  the  passing  hunt,  as  the  Gray  Fox  usually  courses  through 
woods,  or  worn-out  old  fields,  keeping  on  high  dry  grounds,  and  seldom 
during  the  chase  running  across  a  cultivated  plantation. 

Fox-hunting,  as  generally  practised  in  our  Southern  States,  is  regarded 
as  a  healthful  manly  exercise,  as  well  as  an  exhilarating  sporf.  which  in 
many  instances  would  be  likely  to  preserve  young  meu  from  habits  of 
Idleness  and  dissipation.     The  music  of  the  hounds,  whilst  you  breathe 
the  fresh  sweet  morning  air.  seated  on  a  high-mettled  steed,  your  friends 
and  rieighbours  at  hand  with  light  hearts  and  joyous  expectations,  awa.t- 
mg  the  first  break  from  cover,  is,  if  you  delight  in  nature  and  the  re- 
creation   we  are  speaking  of,  most  enlivening;  and  although  we  our- 
selves  have  not  been  fox  hunters,  we  cannot  wholly  condemn  the  young 
man  of  leisure  who  occasionally  joins  in  this  sport;  at  the  same  time  let 
hnn  not  forget  that  whilst  exercise  and  amusement  are  essential  to  health 
and  cheerfulness   of  mind;   the   latter   especially    was   not   intended  to 
.ntorfere  with  the  duties  of  an  active  and  useful  life,  and  should  never 
be  more  than  a  relaxation,  to  enable  him  to  return  the  more  energetically 
U.  the  higher  and  nobler  pursuits  which  are  fitted  for  an  intelligent  an.l 
iniinorfal  mind. 

In  fox-hunting,  the  horse  sometimes  becomes  as  much  excited  as  his 
n.lcr,  and  at  the  cry  of  the  hounds  we  have  known  an  old  steed  which 
l.ad  been  (urned  loose  in  the  woods  to  pick  up  a  subsistence,  prick  up  his 
ears,  fuul   M.  -u.  inslant  start  ..If  lull   uull..,,  until  he  nwriook  the  r-aek 


170 


(SKA.Y  FOX. 


kf('|)iiif!;  in  tli(>  van  iinfil  the  cliaso  was  ended.     Alfh()ii>f|i  exercise  and 
amusement  are  the  prineipal  indneements  (o  Inuit  the  Vox,  we  may  men 
tion  tliat  it  is  also  a  desiraMe  <>l)ject  in  many  |)arls  of  our  country,  to  >jet 
rid  of  lliis  lliievisli  aninnil,  whieh  exists  in  consideriil)le  numlxtrs  in  some 
neiirlilMiurlioods. 

We  nlil  now  retui-n  to  our  suhject,  and  try  to  mnke  you  familiar  with 
the.  mode  of  InmtinK  the  Cray  I'ox  «eiieriiily  adopted  in  Carolina  and 
Louisiana.  'I'he  ln)unds  aie  taken  to  some  spot  where  the  animiil  is 
likely  lo  he  found,  and  are  ke|)t  as  much  as  possil)le  out  of  the  "<irives"  i'vr 
quented  by  deer.  Thiekets  on  the  edf,'es  of  old  jjlantations,  briar  patelies 
un.I  deserted  lields  covered  with  hroom-yniss,  jire  places  in  which  the  Fox 
L-;  iMost  likely  lo  lie  down  to  rest.  The  tr.iil  he  has  left,  behind  him  duriii;; 
his  nocturnal  rambles  is  struck,  the  liounds  are  encourafji-d  by  the  voices 
of  their  masters,  and  Ibllow  it  as  fast,  as  the  devious  course  it  leads  them 
will  permit.  Now  they  scent  the  Fox  alon^  the  field,  probably  when 
in  search  of  parlridiics.  meadow-larks,  rabbits,  or  field-mice;  presently 
they  trace  his  tiiotsteps  to  a  larjie  lojj,  from  whence'  he  has  jinnped  on  to 
a  worm-fence,  and  after  walkina;  a  little  way  on  it,  ha:;  leajied  a  ditch 
and  skulked  toward  the  borders  of  a  marsh.  Thronj^^h  all  his  crooked 
ways  th(>  saju'iicious  hounds  follow  his  path,  imtil  he  is  suddetdy  aroused, 
perchiiuce  I'roin  a  sweet,  dreamy  vision  of  fat  hens,  jjeese,  or  turkeys, 
and  with  a  ^'eneral  cry  the  wiiole  pack,  led  on  by  the  staunchest  and  best 
doRs,  open-m(mlh(>(l  and  eayer.  join  in  the  chase.  'I'lie.  start. (i  F.tx 
makes  two  or  three  rapid  (loi:blin;j;s,  and  then  suddeidy  (lies  lo  ;•  ,  ver 
perhaps  a  tpiarter  of  a  mile  oil",  and  sometimes  thus  |)uls  the  homitl.s  olf 
the  .scent  for  a  few  minutes,  as  when  cool  and  at  lirst  sliirlin;;.  his  sccnl 
is  not  so  slroni;  as  th.il  of  the  red  fox  ;  after  the  chase  has  continued  for 
a  quarter  of  an  hour  or  so,  iiowever,  and  the  anim.i!  is  somewhat  heated, 
his  track  is  followed  with  i;reater  eiise  and  (piickncss  and  the  scene  be- 
comrs  animatinir  and  excitinij.  Where  the  woods  are  free  from  unde: 
brush,  which  is  ofieii  the  case  in  ('arolin;i,  the  avnsn  and  bushes  bcin-i 
burnt  almost  anmially,  m;iny  of  the  sportsmen  keei)  up  with  the  doj,rs, 
and  the  l«\)x  is  V(My  frequently  in  siijhf  and  is  dashed  alVer  at  the  horses' 
jjtre:itest  speed.  He  now  resorts  to  some  of  th(>  mand'uvres  for  whieh  he 
is  famous;  he  ])lunges  into  a  thicket.  dotd)lcs,  runs  into  the  water,  if  any 
be  at  hand,  leaps  on  to  a  loir,  or  perhaps  jrets  upon  a  worm-fence  and  runs 
alonj;  Ihe  t()|)  of  it  for:;  hundred  yards,  ieapinjr  from  it  with  a  desperate 
hound  and  coniiiiuiii^  iiis  lliuhl  inslaiilly.  with  the  hope  of  escape  from 
ilie  niciiiless  pack.  At  ieiiuth  he  becuiins  laii^ucd,  he  is  once  mure 
:cnceaU'd  in  a  thicket  where  he  doubles  huri>iedly;  uncertain  in  what 
direction  to  retreat,   he   hears,  and   perhaps  >:ecs,   the  dogs   almost   upo'i 


GRAY  FOX. 


171 


mm,  and  as  a  last,  resort  clir,.l,s  a  small  tree.  Th«  hounds  and  lu.nler, 
are  almost  instantly  at  the  foot  of  it,  and  whilst  the  former  are  barking 
fiercely  at  the  terrilied  anin.al,  the  latter  .leter.nine  to  ^ivo  him  another 
chance  „r  Ins  life  The  do,.s  are  taken  olf  t<.  a  little  .listar.ce.  an<l  the 
Fox  IS  then  f„rce,l  to  leap  to  the  ^^round  l.y  reaehin^.  with  a  long  pole,  or 
In-on  .n«  a  billet  of  wood  at  him.  IFe  is  allowed  a  quarter  of  an  hour 
»"''"■•<'  'I"'  I'ounds  „re  pennitted  to  pursue  him,  but  he  is  now  less  able  to 
.s.np.  ihMU  belbre ;  he  has  become  sfilf  un,l  chill,  is  soon  overtaken,  and 
tails  ..,n  easy  pn-y,  tiu-ninK  liowever  upon  his  pursu.irs  with  a  growl  of 
d.-spmr,  and  sna,,.,ins  at  his  foes  until  he  bites  the  dust  and  the  chase  is 
ended. 

The  following  anecdotes  of  the  saf,'acity  of  this  animal,  wo  hope  may 
".frest  our  rea.lers.     Shortly  a-ter  the  railroa.l  from  Charleston  to  f'lam- 
.nr«h.  South  Carolina,  had  been  constructed,  the  mils  for  a  portion  of  the 
distance  having?  been  laid  upon  timb.Ts  at  a  considerable  height  from  the 
ground,  supported  by  strong  posts,  we  observed  a  Fox  which  was  hard 
presse<l  by  a  p.-tck  of  houn.ls,   mo.mling  the  rails,  upon  which  he  ran 
several   hundred   yards;    the  dogs   were   unable   to  pursue   him    and   he 
thus  crossed  a  deep  cypn.ss  sw.-.n.p  over  which  the  railroad  was  in  this 
suigular  manner  .■arricd,  and  made  his  escape  on  the  opposite  side      The 
iMte  liKNJAM.N  C.  Yanckv,  Ms.i.,  ,,n  ctninent  lawyer,  who  in  his  youth  was 
very  fon.l  of  fox-hru.ting,  related    th„  following:     A  Fox  had  been  pur- 
sued,  near  his  residence  at  IMgelield,  several  times,  but  the  hounds  always 
lost  the  track  at  a  place  where  thr-re  was  a  foot-path  leading  down  a 
steep  lull.     If,.,  therefore,  determined  to  conceal  himself  near  this  decli- 
vity the  next  time  t'he  l-\,x  was  start.-d,  in  onler  to  discover  his  mode  ot 
baiilmg  the  dogs  at  this  place.     The  aniu.al  was  accordingly  put  up  and 
chased,  and  at  first  led  the  hounds  through  many  bayous  and  ponds  in 
the  woods,  and  at  length  ca.ne  running  over  the  brow  of  the  hill  along 
the  path,  stopped  sud.lenly  and  spread  himself  out  flat  and  motionless  on 
the  ground;  the  hounds  came  down  the  hill  in  pursuit  at  a  dashing  pace 
and  the  whole  pack  passed  and  did  not  stop  until  they  were  at  th.;  hot-' 
torn  of  the  hill.     As  soon  as  the  immediate  dang(,r  was  over,  the  Fox  • 
casting  a  I'urtive  glance  aroun.l  him,  started  up,  and  ran  off  at  his  greatest 
speed  on  his  "  back  track." 

The  Gray  Fox  produces  from  three  to  five  young  at  a  time  In  Ca 
rolina  this  occurs  from  the  middle  of  March  to  the  middle  of  April  •  in 
the  State  of  New- York  they  bring  forth  somewhat  later.  Gestation  con- 
tinues  for  about  three  months. 


■i 


172 


(MlAY  FOX. 


nRoriHAIMIICAI.    ItlH'fHUlI'l'KlN. 


The  Gray  Fox  in  scarco  in  Ncvv-EiikIiukI,  mid  \vr  liiivo  not  \m\u\  of  it 
fo  tho  north  of  the  Stale  of  Maino. ;  in  Canada  wv.  havti  heard  ol'  its  ocom- 
sional,  but  rare  appearance.  In  the  vi«!inily  of  Alltany,  iV.  Y.,  it  is  not 
ail  unconnnon  species;  south  of  lliis,  lhroiiy;h  I'eniisylvjinia.  and  jNew 
.lorsey.  it  is  aiunit  as  abundant  as  the  red  Ibx.  In  tlie  Soutliern  States, 
except  in  the  mountains  of  Virginia,,  it  is  tlie  only  speci<!S  and  is 
abundant.  It  exists  plentifully  in  I'Morida,  Mississippi,  and  Louisiana; 
it  is  found  on  the  prairies  of  the  West,  and  we  have  received  a  s|)ecinieii 
from  California,  scarcely  dilieriiif?  in  any  of  its  niariunjjs  from  those  of 
Carolina. 


RF.NP.RAI.    RKMARKH. 


This  species  was  noticed  by  Lawson,  Catehby,  and  Pi;n\ant.  Soiirkiirr, 
in  177r),  p.'ive  it  a  specitic  njune ;  ho  was  fol!ow<Ml  two  years  allerwards 
by  Erxi-kiu-.n,  and  in  I78S  by  (imiv.in.  In  tli(>.  ineMiitinie  l'^iuxi,r,ni;\.  Sciiui;- 
BER,  and  C.MEMN  jniblishcd  a,  variety  yf  the  Cray  Fox,  wiiieh  was  a  litiie 
more  cinereous  in  colour,  as  a  new  species,  under  the  name  of  Conis  cinr. 
rro-argrnlius.  IlicuARnsoN  was  correct  in  haviiiff  applied  t\w  sjiecilic 
name  of  Viniiiitiiniis  to  the  Cray  Vn\,  but  he  erred  in  referring'  tli(>  West- 
ern kit-fox  or  switl-fox,  (T.  iv/ar,)  to  C.  cinnro-nrij^nitdliis.  To  us.  tin; 
short  description  of  th(>sc  authors,  of  6\  ciiK'no-dri^nifirfiix,  appears  to  ap- 
ply more  strictly  to  the  Gray  Fox  than  fo  their  accounts  of  (7.  Virginiaims, 
the  latter,  we  know,  is  intended  for  th»:  present  species,  as  it  is  the  only 
fox  in  N'irtrinia,  with  the  ev  (>|)li()?i  of  the  red  (ox,  uliicli  exists  sparinf^ly 
in  the  mountains.  'I'he  views  of  Dksmakksi'  in  refj;ard  to  oiu'  American 
foxes  are  very  confused,  and  the  translation  by  IIaklan  partakes  of  ail 
the  errors  of  tlie  oriirinal.  Kiciiakdson  did  not  meet  with  this  species  in 
the  Northern  reffions  he  visited,  and  on  the  whole,  very  little  has  b(^en 
said  of  itu  habits  by  any  author. 


i;;; 


r^KPUS   S  YL  VATIC  us. -JJachman 

OnAY   liAIIIHT, 

I'LATK  XXri.    Quo  Ma.,«,  F«ma,.«,  .«a  Vouno. 

»>.  rnrnhus  o.,.i,.  ,.,„,i„,ih„H,  u,.m,M,  Mpi,.,  „  rnur^in,,  nut  ni^ro-  ...r 
poro  L.  Americano  mine-..,  .supra  ci.u.n.r,   nlu..    <•  •  '"*^'^"'  "" 


CFMRAOTKHB. 

BVNONyMES. 
CONV,    Third    VovilL'n  of  tlio  Fmrll^,!.  i,     \r-      ■    ■       . 

••i-.^.--...„-s  voy.; vol.  Jet, ;!;;  '"""• '''"'  ^^ '"""""  "<'^™^'-  ^>«™ 

TfAu,.:.  IlKooK  C„N„;v,  J.avvso,,  p.  1,2,  Catesby,  Appendix  28 
Amkhk-an  Hakk,  Km1,„'s  Tn.vols,  v,.l.  i.,  p.  105       '^ 
I.KHiH  AMKiiicANLs,  Dosinim'st,  Marn.,  p.  ,u,l. 
"  lliirian,  Fauna,  p.  jj);). 

;;        ;;     «<"'"'■■'-•.  Na<.  iii.st.,voi.ii..  p.  157. 

Nanus,  Dckay,  Na(.  Ilis(.  „f  N.w-York,  li;^ 

r>r;s('RiPTiov. 
This  species  bears  some  rescinhjanr..  tn  th.,  v 
wil.l  »l.u,,  |„„  ,|„^g  „„(    I       , "■"'""I  I"  ""■  lall"  m  „ 


174 


GRAY  RABBIT 


prrffy  well  oovprcd,  but  nran-r  t\w  orilire  thv  skin  visible  throii(?h  tlir 
thinly  smltcrcd  Imirs ;  Icrs,  of  in<.(lcr;it.'  sizo ;  daws,  slronff,  sliar|),  mid 
nearly  strai^-lit,  eoneealed  by  the  hair;  tail,  longer  in  proportion  tliiin 
that  of  the  Northern  hare.  Fur,  compiiet  and  soil,  about  an  inch  and  a 
quarter  in  U  .igth  in  winter. 

COLOUR. 

Summer  dress.— Fur  on  ii,e  back,  yellowish-brown;  soft  fur,  Iroin  the 
roots  to  the  surliu-,.,  pbunbeous ;  the  lonj;  hairs  which  extend  beyond  the 
liir.  and  p:ive  the  jreneral  colour  to  the  animal,  are  for  three-fourths  of 
their  len;.|h  lead  coloured,  tlien  yellowish,  and  ar(>  tipp.^d  with  black. 
Ears,  dark-brown  on  the  outer  surlac,  destitute  of  th<>  distinct  black  bor- 
der s«-cn  in  the  Northern  hare,  and  not  tipped  with  black  like  those  of  tho 
Polar  and  the  variable  hare;  whiskers,  nearly  all  black;  iris,  li^ht 
brownish-yellow;  a  circle  of  fawn  colour  around  the  eye,  more  conspicu- 
ous neiir(>st  the  forehead.  Cheeks,  frrayish  ;  chin,  under  surface  of  body, 
and  inner  surface  of  le>;s,  li^ht  f,'rayish-white ;  tail,  upper  sm-face  gray- 
ish-brown, beneath,  wiiite.  TJreasf,  li^rht  yellowish-pray ;  behind  the 
ears,  a  broad  jxitch  of  fawMi  colour;  outer  surface  of  fore- legs  and  Ihigha, 
yeilowisii-brown. 

Winl(<r  colour.— \'ery  similar  to  lh(>  above ;  in  a  fev/  specimens,  the 
hairs  arc  whitest  at  the  tips;  in  others,  black  tips  prevail.  This  Hare 
never  becomes  white  in  any  part  of  our  country,  and  so  lar  as  our  re- 
searches have  extended,  we  have  scarcely  found  any  variety  in  "its  ce- 
louring. 

niMENEIIONS. 

\dult  Male. 

Length  of  head  and  body        .... 

head       -       " 

*  ears        

"  tail  (vert'-bra-.)         -        .        .        .        , 

**  tail,  including  fur    -         -        -        .        , 

From  heel  to  end  of  middle  claw    -         .        .        , 

Weight,  2lbs.  7oz. 

HABITS. 

This  species  abounds  in  our  woods  and  forests,  even  in  their  densest 
coverts ;  it  is  fond  of  places  ovtM-grown  with  young  pines  thickly  crowded 
together,  or  thickets  of  the  higli  bush-bin ckberry,  (Riihiis  viHosus;)  and 
is  also  fond  of  frequenting  farms  and  plantations,  and  occupying  the  cop 


Inches. 

Lines 

1.5 

0 

3 

.«i 

3 

0 

1 

3 

3 

2 

S 

7 

(JRAY  rUUBlT. 


175 


IMces  a,u   ^rasHy  »p„t.s  i,.  tlu,  .,dKl.l,ou,h,..Hl  of  culi.vaiion,  rernaininK  in 
.ts  .urn.  by  .lay.  cacalod  by  a  b,.,a.Hl..|...ap,  a  tuff,  of  «rass,  or  so.„e  h.-.^.- 
.•..wo„fh„  ..,lc.ofa..oldf....,..;  fn„n  wbi.-b  .vtr.at  it  issues  at  „i«hf  t« 

n-Kal...  ...s..  I  o„  ,b.  Hov.r.  tm„i,,,s,  or  .or-.-d.-LIs  of  ,1..  nu-.n,..      u  'not 

unlm,«oMtIy  d.vestH  the  you..,,  tn-.-s  i,.  .h.-  „u.s..ry  of  th.-ir  hark  ;  it  oft,.. 
nrnkcH  inroads   upon   th«  kit,c.hcM,-,rH,,l,.„.    f,.as,i„K  on  Ih.  young   .,,.,.,. 
|..-ns,  l,.t,uo,..,  cHbba,...,  .^c,  and  doi,.,.  a  gr.at  deal  of    Id..' f    a,.d 
w  .....  .t  l.as  oi.c-e  h.ul  a.,  opportunity  of  ,,t,slin«  „.es..  dai..ti..    it  nmrnu-M 

«l.(l..u.lt  to  prevent  its  .„aki..«  a  ..i«l.tly  visit  to  tl.e.n.  Altl.oup:.  W  ,  a.-e 
at  which  .t  entered  n.ay  be  ca.-efully  dose,!,  the  Rabbit  is  s,...  ,  di«  a 
bvsh  hob,  eve..y   ,.ight  in  its  innn„diate  vieb.ity  ;  a..d   snares    .  r 

Kuns,  M.-e  t,.e  best  auxiliaries  in  such  cases,  soon  putting  an  end  to  farthi-'r 
"■-/.ledations. 

This  animal,  when  first  started,  runs  with  greater  swiftness,  and  .nakes 
k.w,.r  d<.ubl.ngs  than  the  No,-th,.rn  ha,-e.  (L  Americnnu.s ;)  having  a.l 
v-"-"  -t  hundred  yanis  or  mo.-e,  it  stops  to  listen  ;  finding  itself  pursued 
l>y  <l.«s,  should  the  woo,Is  be  op.M.  ,.,.d  f.ve  Iron,  swa.nps  or  tl.iekets,  it 
runs  .hrectly  toward  so.ne  hole  i,.  th,.  ro..^  of  a  t,ve  or  hollow  lo.^      ],. 
the  lower  parts  of  Carolina,  where  it  finds  prot.-ction  i,.  briar  p^t'ches 
"'"I  |.b.c,.s  thickly  overgrow.,  with  s,..ilax  and  other  vines,  it  contb.ues 
.....eb  iong,-r  on  foot,  an.l  by  winding  and  turning  i,.  places  i,mccessible 
to  la.-ger  a...mals,  lrerp.ently  makes  its  eseape  ,ro„.  its  pursues,  without 
the  neeessity  of  resorting  for  shelter  to  n  hollow  t.-.-e. 

The  Gray   Kabbit  possess.'s  the-  habit  of  all  the  other  species  of  this 
«e„.,s  vy.th  whieh  we  a.-e  ac.p.ab.fed.  of  sfampi,.g  with  its  hi,.d  feet  on 
Il.eea.-.h   wi.e..  alarm.  ,1  at  night,  a,.d   wh.-n  the  males  are  en-^a-'ed  i,. 
'■o.nbat       It  .s  also  see..   ,lu.-ing  the  spring  s.-ason.  in  woo.l-patl?s  a..d 
aio,.g  the  edges  of  fields,  seeking  food  late  in  the  ...ornb.gs  a.ul  early  in 
th..  afternoons,  and  during  the  breeding  season  even  at  mid-day:  on  such 
occas.o,..s  it  may  be  app..oached  and  shot  with  great  ease.     This  species 
Ike  all  iho  true  hares,  has  no  note  of  recognition,  and  its  voice  is  never 
heard  except  when  wounded  or  at  the  moment  of  its  capture,  when  it 
utters  a  sh.-ill,  plaintive  c-y,  like  that  of  a  young  child  in  pain  ;  in  tho 
Norlhern   ha.-e  this  c.y  is  louder,   sh.-iller,  and  of  longer   continuance 
I  he  common  domesticated  European  rabbit  seems  more  easily  made  to 
ci-y  out  m  th.s  way  than  any  other  of  the  genus. 

iJr.  ]{.r..ARDsoN,  in  his  work  on  the  Amei-ioan  .prndrupcls.  ,.xp.-ess,.s  an 
ni...uon  t,-om  a  careful  examination  of  many  specimens  in  dilferent  States 
that  the  change  to  the  winter  dress  in  the  Northern  har.,  is  effected  not 
by  a  sheddb.g  of  its  b.i,-,  but  by  a  le.igthening  and  blanching  of  the  sum- 
mer fu.-,       IIavi..K   watebe,!   .he   p-oj-ress  of  (his  ,.ha„ge    in   ih.   p.Tsrnt 


•ii'il 


J|!! 


If] 


17(5 


OHAY   UAUHIT. 


spt'oics  ill  a  state  of  coiinficin»M!t,  jiikI  huviiifj^  iilso  examined  many  sppci- 
iiuMis  at  all  seasons  <»r  the  year,  we  have  arrived  at  the  opposite  coaclii- 
sidii  as  far  as  rcjianis  the  Gray  Hahhit.     In  milumii,  the  «rent(!r  jxirtion,  if 
not  all,  the  summer  liir  drops  oil'  in  spots,  and  is  jjradually  replaced  by 
the  winter  eoiit.      In  this  slutc,  ns  there  nre  shades  of  diU'crenee  lietween 
tlu"  summer  and  winter  eolours,  the  animal  presents  a  sonu^wlial  sin;rular 
appearance,  exhihiliiiK  at   the    mime  time,  like    the  Northern  hare,  (al- 
thou^li  IJir  less  conspicuously,)  patches  of  dillerent   eolours.     The  Gray 
iiiihhit.  nltlioni,'h  it  hri'eds  freely  in  enclosed   wiirrens,  seldom   becomes 
tiime,  and  will  prohiildy  never  he  domesticated.     When  captive,  it  seems 
to  he  consliinlly  enj,'iiy:ed  in  tryinir  to  lind  some  means  of  esc!i|)e;  and 
thoujih  it  <lij;s  no  burrows  in  a  slate  of  nature,  yet,  when  eoidined,  it  is 
capable  of  di<:}iiny:  to  the  depth  (tf  a  foot  or  more  under  a  wall,  m  ordei- 
to  .'lleet  its  object.      We,  however,  at  the  house  of  Dr.  Dk  Hf.n.nkvii.i.k.  at 
Mileslown,  near  I'hiladelphia,  saw  live  or  six  that  were  lakeii  Irom  llie 
nest  when   very  younp:  and   brought  up  by  hand,  so  completely    tamed 
th.'il   they  came  at  the  call  and  leapt  U|)on  the  lap  of  their  li'tulcr,  they 
lived   sociably  and   wilhout   restraint  in  the  yard,   anionjj:  the  dojjs  and 
poultry.     'I'he  former,  itilhou!;!!  accustomed  to  chase  the  v.ihl  rabbit,  ne- 
ver moh'stinji:  those  which  had,  in  this  manner,  jjrown  up  wilh  ihcm.  and 
now  ma<le  a  part  of  the  mo! ley  tenants  of  the  poultry-yard.     We  have 
not  only  obs(  rve<i  dofjs  peacefully  associating  with  the  hare,  when  thus 
tamed,  but  have  seen  hounds  accustomed  to   the  chase  of  the  deer,  eal- 
inji  from  the  sai'ie  platter  with  one  of  those  animals  that  was  domesti- 
cated and  loose  in  the  yard,  refraining:  from  molestiu}^  it,  and  even  dc- 
fendinfj  it  from  iIk-   attacks  of  slran;rcrs  of  their  own  sjjocies  that  hap- 
pened to  come  into  the  ])renuses;  and  when  this  tame  deer,  which  occa- 
sionally visiti-d  the  woods,  was  started   by  the  pack  of  hounds  here  re- 
ferred to,  they  refused  to  pursue  it. 

The  Gray  Uabbit  is  one  of  the  most  prolilic  of  all  our  species  of  this 
eenu.?;  in  the  Northern  States  it  produces  young  about  three  times  in  the 
season,  from  live  to  seven  at  a  litter;  wlulsl  in  (Carolina,  its  young  are 
frecpicntly  br<uijiht  forth  as  early  as  the  twentieth  of  February,  as  late 
as  the  middle  of  Gclobcr.  and  in  all  the  intermediate  months.  Nature 
seems  thus  to  liav(>  made  a  wise  provision  for  the  preservation  of  the 
species,  since  no  animal  is  more  dei'enceless  or  possesses  more  numerous 
enemies.  Althoiurh  it  can  run  with  considerabl(\  swiftness  for  soini'  dis- 
tance, its  strength  in  a  short  time  is  exhausted,  and  an  active  dog  would 
soon  overtake  it  if  it  did  not  take  shelter  in  some  hole  in  iIk?  earth,  heap 
of  logs,  or  stones,  or  in  a  tree  with  a  hollow  near  its  root;  in  these  rt- 
t reals  il  is  often  captured  by  \oung  hunters. 


OKAY  RABBIT 


XT) 


In  the  Northern  and  Mi(l<lle  States,  where  the  burrows  of  the  Maryhmd 
rnnrmot  {Arclomijn  momu:)  and  the  holes  resorted  to  by  the  common  skunk, 
{Mrphitis  chinga,)  arv.  numerous,  the  Grny  Rabbit  in  order  to  effect  its 
escape  when  pursued  betakes  itself  to  them;  and  as  they  are  generally 
det^p,  or  placed  among  rocks  or  roots,  it  would  require  more  labour  to  un- 
earth  it  when  it  has  taken  possession  of  either  of  these  animals'  reueats 
than  it  is  worth,  and  it  is  generally  letl.  unmolested.  It  it,  not  always  safe 
in  these  cases,  however,  for  the  skunk  occasionally  is  "at  home"  when 
the  Rabbit  nms  into  his  hole,  and  olleu  catches  and  devours  the  as- 
tonished  fugitive  before  it  can  retrace  its  steps  and  reach  the  mouth  of 
the  burrow. 

This  species  is  also  captured  occasionally  by  the  skunk  and  other  car- 
nivorous animals  when  in  its  form.  Its  most  frrmidable  enemy,  how- 
ever,  is  the  ermine,  which  follows  its  tracks  until  it  retires  to  v..  hole 
in  the  earth  or  to  a  hollow  tree,  which  the  little  but  ferocious  cr  jature, 
although  not  one-fourth  as  large  as  the  timid  Rabbit,  quickly  enters 
and  kills  it— eating  off  the  head,  and  leaving  the  body  until  a  want  of 
food  compels  it  to  return  for  more. 

Whilst  residing  in  the  State  of  New- York  many  years  ago,  we  were 
desirous  of  preserving  a  number  of  Rabbits  during  the  winter  from  the 
excessive  cold  and  fron.  the  hands  of  the  hunters,  who  killed  so  many 
that  we  feared  the  race  would  be  nearly  extirpated  in  our  neighbourhood ; 
our  design  being  to  set  them  at  liberty  in  the  spring.  At  this  period  we 
had  in  confinement  several  weasels  of  two  species  existing  in  that  part 
of  the  country,  (Pnforius  erminm  and  P.  fusca^  in  order  to  ascertain  in 
what  manner  their  change  of  colour  from  brown  in  summer  to  white  in 
winter,  and  vice  versa,  was  effected. 

We  bethought  ourselves  of  using  one  of  each  species  of  these  weasels 
instead  of  a  ferret,  to  aid  in  taking  the  Rabbits  we  wanted,  and  having 
provided  ourselves  with  a  man  and  a  dog  to  hunt  the  Rabbits  to  their  holes, 
we  took  the  weasels  in  a  little  tin  box  with  us,  having  first  tied  a  small 
cord  around  their  necks  in  such  a  manner  as  to  prevent  them  from  es- 
caping, or  remaining  in  the  holes  to  eat  the  Rabbits,  whilst  it  could  not 
slip  and  choke  them. 

We  soon  raced  a  Rabbit  to  its  hole,  and  our  first  experiment  was  made 
with  the  little  brown  weasel,  (P.  fusca::)  it  appeared  to  be  frighten- 
ed, aad  refused  to  enter  the  hole ;  the  common  species,  (P.  erminea,)  al- 
though we  had  captured  the  individual  but  a  few  days  before,  entered 
readily;  but  having  its  jaws  at  liberty,  it  killed  the  Rabbit.  Relinquish- 
ing the  weasel  to  our  man,  he  afterwards  filed  its  teeth  down,  to  prevent 
it  from  destroying  the  Rabbits;  and  when  thus  rendered  harmless,  the 


if 


178 


GRAY  RABBIT. 


ermine  pursued  the  Rabbits  to  the  bottom  of  their  holes,  and  terrified  them 
so  that  they  instantly  fled  to  the  entrance  and  were  taken  alive  hi  the 
hand ;  and  although  they  sometimes  scrambled  up  some  listance  in  a 
hollow  tree,  their  active  and  perservering  little  foe  followed  them  and 
instantly  forced  them  down.  In  this  manner  the  man  procured  twelve 
Rabbits  alive  in  the  course  of  one  morning,  and  more  than  fifty  in  %bout 
three  weeks,  when  we  requested  him  to  desist. 

On  more  than  one  occasion  we  have  seen  the  tracks  of  this  species  on 
the  snow,  giving  evidence  by  their  distance  from  each  other  that  the 
animal  had  passed  rapidly,  running  under  the  influence  of  fear.  Exam- 
ining the  surface  of  the  snow  carefully,  we  observed  the  foot-prints  of  the 
weasel,  as  if  in  pursuit,  and  following  up  the  double  trail,  we  found  at 
the  mouth  of  a  hole  a  short  distance  beyond,  the  mutilated  remains  of  the 
luckless  Rabbit. 

The  Canada  lynx,  the  Bay  lynx,  (wild  cat,)  the  red  and  the  gray  fox, 
&.C.,  capture  this  species  by  stratagem  or  stealth ;  various  species  of 
hawks  and  owls  prey  upon  them,  and  the  rattle-snake,  chicken-snake, 
and  other  serpents,  have  been  killed  with  the  Gray  Rabbit  in  their  sto- 
mach. These  reptiles  probably  caught  their  victims  by  stratagem,  or  by 
stealing  upon  them  when  in  their  form,  and  enclosing  them  in  their  twin- 
ing folds,  as  the  boa  constrictor  captures  larger  animals. 

lu  order  to  catch  or  kill  the  Gray  Rabbit,  different  means  are  resorted 
to  according  to  the  fancy  ol  'he  hunter  or  the  nature  of  the  locality  in 
which  the  animal  may  be.  In  the  northern  parts  of  the  United  States  it 
is  pursued  with  dogs,  and  either  shot  or  taken  from  the  hole  or  other  re- 
treat to  which  it  may  have  been  driven.  It  is  also  frequently  captured 
in  box-traps,  or  snares,  placed  in  the  gaps  of  some  brush-fence  made  in 
the  woods  for  the  purpose.  In  the  Southern  States  it  is  generally  hunted 
with  pointer  dogs  and  shot  at  the  moment  when  it  leaps  from  its  form. 


GEOGRAPHICAL    DISTRIBUTION. 

We  have  not  heanl  of  the  existence  of  this  species  farther  north  than 
the  southern  counties  of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire,  beyond  which  it 
is  replaced  by  other  and  larger  species.  It  cannot  be  said  to  be  abun- 
dant in  the  New  England  States,  except  in  a  few  localities,  and  it  does 
not  seem  to  prefer  high  mountainous  regions.  In  occasional  botanical 
excursions  among  the  Catskill  mountains  and  those  of  Vermont  and  New 
Hampshire,  where  we  saw  considerable  numbers  of  the  Northern  hare, 
we  found  scarcely  any  traces  of  the  present  species,  especially  in  the 
mountains  east  of  the  Hudson  river.  It  exists  in  the  chain  of  the  Alle- 
ganies  running  through  Virginia  to  the  upper  parts  of  Carolina,  but  is 


bRAY  RABBIT. 


171* 


there  far  from  being  abundant.  It  was  exceedingly  scarce  nortb-east  of 
Albany  thirty-five  years  ago,  where  it  has  now  become  far  more  n.imer- 
ous  than  the  Northern  hare,  which  was  then  the  only  species  usually  met 
with.  It  abounds  in  the  sandy  regions  covered  with  pine  trees  west  of 
that  city.  From  Dutchess  county  to  the  southern  limits  of  New- York  it 
is  found  in  considerable  numbers.  In  Pennsylvania,  New- Jersey,  Mary- 
land,  and  all  the  Southern  States,  hunting  the  Gray  Rabbit  affords  more 
amusement  to  young  sportsmen  than  the  pursuit  of  any  other  quadruped 
in  the  country.  We  have  traced  this  species  through  all  the  higher  por- 
tions  of  Florida.  To  the  west  we  have  seen  it  in  all  the  Southern  States, 
and  it  is  very  abundant  on  the  upper  Missouri  River  to  nearly  1000  miles 
above  Saint  Louis. 


GENERAL    REMARKS. 

This  being  the  most  common  hare  in  the  Atlantic  States  of  America, 
it  has  been  longest  and  most  familiarly  known.      Herriott,  who  gave  an 
account  of  the  third  voyage  of  the  English  to  Virginia  in  1586,  in  enu- 
merating   the   natural  productions   of  that  country,  under  the   head  of 
Conies,  says,  "  Those  that  we  have  seen,  and  all  that  we  can  hear  of, 
are  of  a  gray  colour  like  unto  hares  ;  in  some  places  there  are  such  plen- 
ty that  all  the  people,  of  some  towns,  make  them  mantles  of  the  fur,  or 
fleece  of  the  skins  of  those  which  th.^j.  usually  take."     It  is  odbsequently 
mentioned  by  the  intrepid  Governor  Smith  of  Virginia,  by  Lawson  and  by 
Catesby.     Kalm,  in  the  1st  vol.  of  his  Travels  in  America,  gave  a  cor- 
rect  description,  not  only  of  the  animal,  but  of  its  habits.     The  following 
is  an  extract  from  his  Journal :  the  entry  was  made  either  at  Philadelphia 
or  his  favourite  retreat  "Racoon,"  in  ihe  vicinity  of  that  city,  on  the  6th 
Jan.  1749.     "There  are  a  great  number  of  hares  in  this  country,  but 
they  differ  from  our  Swedish  ones  in  their  size,  which  is  very  small, 
and   but   little    bigger   than   that   of  a   rabbit;    they    keep    almost  the 
same   gray   colour  both  in   summer   and  winter,   which  our  Northern 
hares  have  in  summer  only :  the  tip  of  their  ears  is  always  gray,  and 
not  black ;  the  tail  is  likewise  gray  on  the  upper  side,  at  all  seasons ; 
they  breed  several  times  a  year.     In  spring  they  lodge  their  young  one.s 
in  hollow  trees,  and  in  summer,  in  the  months  of  June  and  July,  they 
breed  in  the  grass.     When  they  are  surprised  they  commonly  take' refuge 
.n  hollow  trees,  out  of  which  they  are  taken  by  means  of  a  crooked  stick 
or  by  cutting  a  hole  into  the  tree  opposite  to  the  place  where  they  lie ; 
or  by  smoke  which  is  occasioned  by  making  a  fire  on  the  outside  of  the 
tree.    On  all  there  occasions  the  grayhounds  must  be  at  hand.     These 

nares  nevor  bite,  and  can  be  touched  without  anv  danger-     In  thn  H« i-.f  ;„... 

,        ■■„-..     J  ^. 


ISO 


GRAY  RABBIT. 


they  usually  lie  in  hollow  trees,  and  hardly  ever  stir  from  thence  unless 
Ihey  be  disturbed  by  men  or  dogs ;  but  in  the  night  they  come  out  and 
seek  their  food.  In  bad  weather,  or  when  it  snows,  they  lie  close  for  a 
day  or  two,  and  do  not  venture  to  leave  their  retreats.  They  do  a  great 
deal  of  mischief  in  the  cabbage-fields,  but  apple-trees  suffer  infinitely 
more  from  them,  for  they  peel  off  all  the  bark  next  to  the  ground.  The 
people  here  are  agreed  that  the  hares  are  fatter  in  a  cold  and  severe 
winter  than  in  a  mild  and  wet  one,  for  which  they  could  give  me  several 
reasons  from  their  own  conjectures.  The  skin  is  useless,  because  it  is  so 
loose  that  it  can  be  drawn  off;  for  when  you  would  separate  it  from  the 
flesh,  you  need  only  pull  at  the  fur  and  the  skin  follows.  These  hares 
cannot  be  tamed.  They  were  at  all  times,  even  in  the  midst  of  winter, 
plagued  with  a  number  of  common  fleas." 

In  1820  (as  we  have  observed  in  our  article  on  L.  Americanus)  Des- 
MAREST  mistaking  the  species,  gave  a  pretty  good  description  of  the  Gray 
Rabbit,  and  unfortunately  referred  it  to  L.  Americanus.  He  had  evident- 
ly been  misled  by  Fouster  ScHoirFF.  Pennant,  Erxleben  and  Bodd,  who 
having  confounded  these  two  specie  ^,  induced  him  to  believe  that  as  he 
was  describing  sin  American  hare,  only  one  American  species  at  that 
time  being  known,  it  must  be  the  one  referred  to  by  previous  authors. 
Hence  he  quoted  Gmelin,  Schcepff,  Erxleben,  Pallas  and  Bodd,  and  gave 
to  the  species  the  extravagant  geographical  range,  from  Churchill,  Hud- 
son's  Bay,  to  California,  and  assigned  it  a  habitation  in  New-Albion,  Loui- 
siana, Florida,  the  two  Carolinas,  &c.  Harlan,  in  giving  an  account  of 
the  American  quadrupeds  in  1825,  finding  the  Gray  Rabbit  described  by 
Desmakest,  translated  the  arii<le  very  literally,  even  to  its  faults,  from  the 
French  of  th:it  author,  (See  F-ncyclopedie  de  Mammalogie,  p.  351.)  Har- 
lan's translation  represents  the  fur  as  "  becoming  whiter  during  winter, 
but  the  ears  and  tail  remaining  always  of  the  same  gray."  In  the  fol- 
lowing year  Godman  (Amer.  Nat.  Hist,,  vol.  ii.,p.  157)  once  more  described 
this  species  under  the  (wrong)  name  of  Lepus  Americanus.  In  speaking 
of  its  colour,  he  says,  "  in  winter  the  pelage  is  nearly  or  altogether 
white,"  and  he  gives  it  the  extraordinary  weight  of  seven  pounds.  This 
'.8  rather  surprising,  as  we  know  no  city  in  the  union  where  the  market 
in  winter  is  better  supplied  with  this  species  of  hare  than  Philadelphia. 

In  this  singular  manner  the  Gray  Rabbit,  the  most  common  .iiid 
best  known  of  all  the  species  of  quadruj)ods  in  America,  had  never  r<'- 
ceived  a  specific  name  that  was  not  pre-occupied.  In  1827,  we  proposed 
the  name  of  Lepus  stjlvaticus,  and  assigned  our  reasons  for  so  doing  in  a 
subsequent  paper,  (See  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc,  vd.  viii.,  part  1,  p.  76.)  In 
1840.  I)r    Emmons  also,  (Report  on  Quadrupeds  of  Massachusetts,)  de. 


GRAY  RABBIT. 


181 


scribed  it  under  the  (wrong)  name  of  L.  Americanus,  giving  as  synony- 
mous, L.  Hudsonius,  Pallas  ;  American  hare,  Forster,  Pennant,  Kvc\ 
Zool.  Hearne's  Journey,  Sabine,  Parry  and  Richardson  ;  who  elch  de- 
scribed the  iNorthern  hare,  and  not  this  species.  He,  however,  quoted 
Harlan  and  Godman  correctly,  with  the  exception  of  the  name  which  they 
had  misapplied. 

In  1842  Dr.  Dekav  (See  Nat.  Hist.  N.  York,  part  1st,  p.  93)  refers 
this  species  to  Lepus  nanus  of  Schreber,  supposing  the  description  of  that 
author,  (which  is  contained  in  an  old  work  that  is  so  scarce  in  America 
that  our  naturalists  have  seldom  had  an  opportunity  of  referring  to  it,) 
to  have  escaped  the  notice  of  modern  authors.  After  giving  a  trans- 
lation from  Schreber,  he  remarks,  "The  whole  history  of  the  habits  of 
this  species,  and  its  abundance,  sufficiently  confirm  the  fact  that  Schreber 
had  our  Rabbit  in  view,  although  he  was  misled  by  Schcepff  and  Pennant, 
and  confounded  two  species." 

We  regret  that  we  are  obliged  to  differ  from  an  author  who  is  gene- 
rally accurate,  and  who  is  always  courteous  in  his  language  towards 
other  naturalists,  but  in  this  case  we  must  do  so. 

In  order  to  save  the  student  of  natural  history  the  labour  of  searching 
for  Schreber's  work,  to  refer  to  his  description,  we  have  concluded  to  insert 
it  here,  together  with  our  translation  of  the  article  adding  the  references 
to  authors,  &c.,  which  were,  omitted  by  Dekay,  and  which  we  conceive 
very  important  in  pursuing  our  inquiries. 

extract  from  schreber. 

"DER  WARTTS,  ODER  AMERIKANISCHE  HASE. 

TAB.  CCXXXIV.   B. 

Lepus  nanus.     Lepus  auribus  extrorsum  nigro  marginatis,  cauda  supra 
nigricante. 


8ynonymen. 

Lepus  Hudsonihs. 

Lepus  Aimce  Aurium  Caud^que  Cinereo,  Pall.,  Nov.  Spec.  Glis.,  p  30  45   Zim- 
merm.,  E.  E.  z.  S-IO.  '      ' 

Lepus  Americanus,  Lepus  cauda  abbreviata  pedibus  postici  corpora  dimidio  loncno- 

ribus  auricularum  caud.npque  apicibus  griseis,  Er.vleben.  Maitim.,  p.  330        ^ 
American  Hahe.  Forster,  Phil.  Tr,  Ixxii.,  p.  376,  Pennant,  Hist.,  p.  372  u.  243 
Hake,  Hupob  Coney,  Lawson,  Car.,  p.  122,  Catesbv's  App .  p  xxviii 


182 


GRAY  RABBIT. 


Hakar,  en  art  som  ftr  midt  emellan  hare  ach  canin,  Kalm,  Rese,  vol.  ii.,  p.  236,  toI.  iii 

p.  8,  285. 
Der  amerikanische  Hase,  Forster,  von  den  Thieren  in  Hudson's  Bay,  in  Sprenge'.s 

Beyt. 
Dkb  nordamerikanischk  Hase,  SchoepfF. 
Wabus,  (Aluonquinisch,)  Jefferson's  Notes,  (Phil.  1788,)  p.  51,  57. 


i        ii 


BESCUREIBUNG. 

Der  Kopf  hat  nichts  Unterscheidendes.  Die  Backen  sind  dickharlg. 
Die  Ohren  dunne,  auswertdig  diinne  behaart,  inwendig  kahl,  und  reichen, 
vorwarts  gebogen,  noch  nicht  bis  an  die  Nasenspitze ;  nach  hinten  gelegt, 
bis  an  die  Schulterblatter.  Ueber  den  grossen  schwarzen  Augen  vier  bis 
fijnf  Borsten.  Die  Bartborsten  grossentheils  schwarz;  einige  weiss;  die 
I'ingsten  scheinen  langer  als  der  Kopf  zu  sein. 

Die  Sommerfarbe  ist  folgende.  Die  Ohren  braunlich,  mit  einer  sehr 
schmalen  schwarzen  Einfassung  am  aussern  Rande,  die  an  der  Spitze 
eben  die  Breite  behalf,  oder  gegen  die  Spitze  hin  gar  verschwindet. 
Stirne,  Backen,  Riicken  und  Seiten,  Aerme  und  Schenkel  auswendig 
leicht  braun  mit  Schwarz  uberlaufen. 

Der  Umfang  des  Afters  weiss.  Die  Fusse  dicht  und  kurz  behaart,  von 
einem  hellern  leicht  Braun,  ohne  alles  Schwarz,  an  der  innern  Seite  starker 
in  grau-weiss  abfallend.  Der  Schwa«z  oben  auf  von  der  Farbe  des 
Ruckens,  (vermuthlich  starker  mit  Schwarz  uberlaufen,  denn  Herr  Pen- 
nant beschreibt  ihn  oben  schwarz,')  unten  weiss.  Die  Kehle  weiss ;  der 
Untertheil  des  Halses  leicht  braun,  mit  Weiss  uberlaufen. 

Brust,  Bauch,  innere  Aerme  und  Schenkel,  einem  weiclien  Weiss.  Die 
Winterfarbe,  wo  sie  verschieden,  ist  weiss.  Backenzahne  oben  und  unten 
auf  jeder  Seite  funf.  Die  Liinge  des  Korpers  hochstens  anderthalb  eng- 
lische  Fuss,  des  Schwanzes  nicht  viel  uber  zwei  ZoU.  Das  Gewicht 
21  bis  3  Pfund ;  nach  Herrn  Pennant  3  bis  4J  Pfund. 

Die  underscheidenden  Merkmale  dieser  Art  sind  nacii  den  Herren  For- 
BTER,  Pennant  und  Schcftf,  1.  die  Grosse ;  or  kommt  dem  gemeinen  und 
veranderlichen  Hasen  lange  nicht  bei,  und  ist  kaum  grosser  als  ein  Ka- 
ninchen,  daher  er  auch  in  Nord-Amerika  nicht  seiten  den  Namen  Rabbit 
Oder  Kanincher'  bekommt.  2.  Das  Verhiiltniss  der  Fiisse;  die  Vorterfusse 
sind  kurzer  und  die  Hinterffisse  langer  als  an  alien  Dreien.  3.  Die  Far- 
be  der  Ohren-  sie  haben  eine  schwarze  Einfassung  auswendig,  aber 
keinen  schwarzen  Fleck  an  der  Spitze.  Ihre  geringerc  Liinge  unter- 
Bcheidet  von  den  Ohren  des  gemeinen  Hasen.  4.  Die  Farbe  des  Schwan- 
zes ;  dUese  ist  oben  auf  nicht  schwarz,  oder  doch  nicht  so  sattschwarz  als 
am  Hasen      5.  Die  Farbe  des  Korpers.     0.  Die  Lcbensart  und  Eigen- 


GRAY  RABBIT. 


1S3 


.chaft™.     Er  kann  also  unmogllch  etwas  anders  als  cine  fll-  ,iol,  1,„.^. 

wu„e,  *  ™a..,  ^ir:„r„i:i:  rrr  or:  :„:  z 

(Kal„.)  '  ''™  ■""■"*"   Wintern,  unveranclert, 

aer„t"  '™°"  ""'"    '"""    """    «'^"«''  *»    "»-veraa«ich.„ 


ho  had  never  seen  the  Prnv T^  .  '"  ""«  """""ion  that 

he  professed  .,  de  e  i£  ^i"  t' H  ,  ™  T""""'  "■' ™'^  'P^^ 
B..n.oro».  (See  volt;;  ii/r  „":"<)  aid  r^r  '''''*'»" 
called  rabbi,  a.  Hudso„-s  Bay,"  of  F™  L""  1  "^  J  """""r"  '>''"' 
Which,  however  had  alread/Leived  fZ^rf  ^t  X:  i]  ^pl^:: 

The  „n,e  when  ,h,s  description  was  made  must  no,  be  overlooked      A. 

he  close  of  the  year  im,  the  Philosophical  Transactions   comaMn,  ,f 

two  acconnts  of  this  new  American  hare,  were  publish^    No      ^  ^ 

lM,n  name,  such  as  would  accordinir  to  th.  b    P""""'"'-     "o  speeiHc 

.hen  co.in.  into  use,  entitle  thetfdrcr'itrTe  sTets  "b^a.?: 

!i:sTa:ar.:  :;trr.tr;r/rr,  "-'-"-- 

next  door  neighbour,  before  their  ^yes   went  ZZh  •    v  .T""'  '^'" 
scribe  the  species.     Leavin-^  the  Zv  .''^'f./^'^'^'^'-'^  '"  ^'«t  ^-aste  to  de- 

^<  to  aseeLn  b,  ^:J^tf^  ^:^:::t ''-'  ^" 

bit.  they  sought  for  a  Latin  cognomen,  des^ous    IrtJ  "  ' '''' 

should  be  handed  down  to  posterky  alonL  wUUt  r    """  ""^'^ 

..AB  and  ScHKKBEH.  (the  tl  ...„!    .  "^"''^  '\  Hcnce  Ekxl.b...  1>,,. 

"   '  -^^^ently  wiihout  (he  knowledge  ol 


f.     i 


184 


GRAY  RABBIT. 


tl^e  latter,)  named  the  species,  very  likely,  as  wc  are  inclined  to  think, 
without  having  had  any  specimen  before  them,  and  simply  attaching  a 
name  to  the  descriptions  of  the  English  naturalists.  Be  this  as  it  may, 
in  less  than  three  years  it  had  already  received  in  Germany  alone,  the 
several  names  of  L.  Amcricanus,  nanus,  end  Hudsonius.  If  Schreber, 
who  had  the  Philosophical  Transactions  lying  before  him  when  he  drew 
up  his  description,  (for  he  quotes  both  the  accounts,)  and  who  also  pos- 
sessed the  accountf  ■  -'  V^xi-ni-.r.:;  :..id  Pali. as,  had  examined  a  different 
species,  surely  he  'v  .t'.,-  we  made  the  discovery;  but  after  a  careful 
t(xamination,  and  no.  .  'ad  description,  he  gives  the  size,  colour,  and 
measurements  of  the  Northern  hare,  and  finally  quotes  Forster,  Pennant, 
ScHCEPFF,  &c.,  as  his  authorities  for  the  species. 

The  name  Lepiis  nanus,  given  to  it  by  Schreber,  might  at  first  lead  us 
to  conjecture  that  as  he  meant  tfa  designate  the  specieo  as  a  small  hare, 
and  as  the  Northern  hare  is  rather  large,  he  could  not  have  intended  it 
for  the  latter,  but  had  in  view  the  Gray  Rabbit— hence  the  name,  nanus, 
dwarf.  There  can,  however,  be  no  difficulty  in  accounting  for  the  choice 
of  that  name.  On  turning  to  the  eleventh  page  of  the  Philosophical 
Transactions,  vol.  xlii.,  where  the  species  was  first  announced,  it  will  be 
perceived  that  Barrinoiun  had  been  closely  investigating  the  several  spe- 
cies of  hare  with  which  the  naturalists  of  Europe  were  acquainted  at 
that  early  day  ;  aad  he  gives  the  following  measurements : — 


Fore-leg.* 

Hind-leg.' 

Back 

and  Head. 

Rabbit 

4^  inches 

G2  inches 

16^  inches 

Hare 

7S        " 
'4 

11 

22        " 

Hudson's  Bay  quadruped 

-       Gf       " 

10?      " 

18 

Alpine  hare 

-       «i       " 

Hif      " 

22 

*  From  uppennost  joint  to  toe. 

Here  then  we  nave  the  relative  sizes  of  the  several  species.  The 
first  is  the  common  wild  rabbit  of  England,  (L.  cuniculus,)  which  is  a 
little  larger  than  our  Gray  Rabbit.  The  second  is  the  common  Eng- 
lish  hare,  (L.  timidus.)  The  third,  the  American  hare  from  Hudson's 
Bay ;  and  the  fourth,  the  Alpine  or  variable  hare,  (L.  variabilis.)  Tho 
rabbit  being  a  burrowing  animal  with  ivhife  flesh,  was  not  considered  a 
tare,  and  the  American  animal  was  smaller  than  either  the  European  or 
the  Alpine  hare,  measuring  only  eighteen  inches  in  length,  whilst  these 
last  measured  twentj'-two  inches  each.  We  perceive,  therefore,  that  it 
was  called  Lcpus  nanus,  because  it  was  the  smallest  of  the  species  then 
known.     For  the  same  reason  our  American  woodcock  was  called  scolopat 


GRAY  RABBIT. 


185 


minor,  because  it  svas  smaller  than  the  English  woodcock,  although  it 
hnaliy  proved  to  be  the  largest  snipe  in  America. 

Let  us  compare  the  description  of  Sc.reber's  L.  nanus,  with  the  North 
'^rn  hare  of  which  we  have  a  number  of  specimens  (includin^r  all  ^>- 
various  changes  of  colour)  before  us,  to  refer  to  as  we  proceed       ' 


TRANSLATION. 

Lepus  nanus. 
The  head  has  nothing  peculiar; 
cheeks,  thickly  haired;  ears,  thin, 
externally  with  few  hairs,  naked 
within,  and  when  bent  Ibrward  do 
not  reach  the  point  of  the  nose; 
when  bent  backward  they  reach 
the  shoulder  blades. 


REMARKS, 

Ijepus  Americanua 
This  description  agrees  with  L. 
Americanus;  the  ears  in  our  .rito 
specimens  are  none  of  them  more 
than  3i  inches  long,  whilst  from' 
nose  to  ear  they  measure  4  inches ; 
the  ears  therefoie  could  not  reach 
the  nose. 


or  hve  bmllcs  ab„™  them,  whi,.  mc„.,  „f  i.  Ameriamus.  extent  ft, 
kers  most  ,  black;  some  „.c  whi.o,  c„,„„r  of  .he  eye,,  whhih  , Tp^l st 
.he,o,,^„appea..oheh,„,er.ha„     oe.he.  ,he  N„„he„,  ha/L  .ho 

t-ray  Rabbit,  and  which  he  must 
have  obtained  from  some  other 
source  than  a  dried  skin. 


The  following  is  the  colour  in 
summer:  ears,  brownish,  with  a 
very  narrow  black  border  on  the 
outer  margin,  being  at  the  tips  the 
same  breadth,  or  it  even  disappears 
towards  the  tips. 


The  very  narrow  black  border  on 
the  outer  margin  betrays  the  spe- 
cies; it  belongs  to  the  Northern 
hare,  but  not  to  the  Gray  Rabbit. 
They  only  become  effaced  when 
covered  with  white  hair  in  wi-,  £.-; 
and  it  is  evident  th  s  last  exprescion 
was  taken  from  Kalm,  who  says  of 
the  Rabbit,  "  the  tip  of  their  can 
IS  always  gray,  and  not  black,  as  is 
the  case  in  the  European,  common, 
and  Alpine  hares." 

Forehead,  cheeks,  back  and  sides.        All  agreeing  with  the  description 
ore  and  hm.l-legs  externally,  light     of  the  Northern  hare. 
l)rown,  mixed  with  black;  around 
the  hreech,  white. 
21 


; 


iiplill- 


186 


GRAY  RABBIT. 


TRANSLATION. 


REMARKS. 


Feet,  thickly  covered  with  short  Such  is  the  colour  of  the  feet  of 

hairs   of  a   light    brown,    unmixed  several  of  our  specimens  of  the  N'>r- 

with  black,  changing  on  the  inside  thern  hare  in  summer  pelage, 
to  a  grayish  white. 


Upper  part  of  the  tail  the  colour 
of  the  back,  (perhaps  mixed  with 
black,  as  Pennant  describes  it  black 
above,)  beneath  white. 


Throat,  white ;  lower  part  of  the 
neck,  bright  brown,  mixed  with 
white ;  chest  and  belly,  inside  of 
fore  and  hind-legs,  a  dull  white. 


The  upper  part  of  the  tail  is  like 
the  back  in  most  specimens,  but  it 
is  seen  how  anxious  he  was  not  to 
depart  from  the  views  of  Pennant, 
who  describes  it  as  black,  which  is 
the  case  in  some  specimens. 

These  distinctive  marks  all  be- 
long to  the  Northern  hare. 


!  1 


Cole  iT  in  winter,  when  it  does 
change,  white. 

Molars  above  and  beneath,  on 
each  side,  five.  The  length  of  the 
body  at  farthest  eighteen  inches, 
the  ta^l  not  over  two  inches. 


The  Gray  Rabbit  does  not  become 
white  in  winter. 

This  size  applies  to  the  Northern 
hare,  and  not  to  the  Gray  Rabbit. 
None  of  our  dried  specimens  of  the 
former  reach  quite  eighteen  inches, 
and  none  of  the  Gray  Rabbit  beyond 
fifteen.  Tail  of  the  Northern  hare., 
including  fur,  two  inches ;  that  ol 
the  Gray  Rabbit  is  longer. 

These  weights  were  compiled 
from  authors.  Carver,  who  had  re- 
ference to  the  Gray  Rabbit,  gave 
the  lesser  v.  eight ;  and  Pennant, 
who  referred  to  the  Northern  hare, 
gave  the  greater. 


The  .Tios*,  striking  distinctions  in  Forster  says  in  regard  to  the 
this  species,  according  to  Forster,  Northern  hare — "The  proper  cha- 
Pennant,  and  Schcepff,  are,  1st,  its  racteristics  of  this  species  seem  to 
size ;  it  is  not  near  as  large  as  the  be,  1  st,  its  size,  which  is  some- 
common    hare   or   the    changeable  what  bigger  than  a  rabbit,  but  less 


The  weight  is  from  2^  to  3  lbs. ; 
according  to  Pennant,  from  3  to  4^ 
Iba. 


1 


GRAY  RABBIT 


TRANBLATION. 


187 


hare,   and   scarcely   larger   than  a     ^,        ^i    .      ^    , 

rabbit;  hence  in  North  America  he    i'^°»  ^  ^^  ^^P'"^   ""'  ^^'^'' 

is  frequently  called  rabbit. 


2d,  The  proportion  of  the  legs. 
The  hind  feet  being  longer  and  the 
fore-fset  short.ir  than  either  of  the 
three. 


3d,  The  colour  of  the  ears ;  they 
have  a  black  margin  outside,  but 
no  black  spot  at  tha  tip. 


The  ear  being  less  in  length  se- 
parates it  from  the  common  hare. 


4th,  The  colour  of  e  tail ;  this 
is  on  the  upper  surface  not  black, 
or  as  intensely  black  as  that  of  the 
hare. 

5th,  The  colour  of  the  body. 


2d,  FousTER  says,  "  The  propor- 
tion of  its  limbs.  Its  hind-feet  being 
longer  in  proportion  to  the  body 
tlian  those  of  tlie  rabbit  and  the 
common  hare." 

3d,    "  The  tip   of   the  ears  and 
tail,  which  are  constantly  gray,  not 
black,"  Kalm's  Travels,  vol    ii     p 
46. 

The  ears  of  the  Northern  hare, 
the  species  here  referred  to,  are  con- 
siderably less  in  length  than  those 
of  the  common  European  hare. 


The  upper  side  of  tlie  tail  of  the 
European    hare,    (Z.    timidus,) 
black,  that  of  the    Northern 
generally  dark  brown. 


IS 

hare 


6th,  Its  mode  of  living  and  habits. 


That  of  the  European  hare  is  not 
as  dark. 

In  the  description  of  these  habits 
by  FoESTER,  two  species  had  been 
blended. 

It  can  therefore  only  be  a  distinct        tt  ,.    . 

species.  ^®  "^^*"'  distmct  from  those  of 

Europe. 


It  is  a  native  of  all  North  Ameri- 
ca, from  Hudson's  Bay  to  Florida. 
It  does  not  migrate  far,  but  confines 
itself  to  a  narrow  compass. 


Tlie  Gray  Rabbit  is  not  found  at 
Hudson's  Bay,  where  the  othe' 
abounds.  In  his  views  of  the  South- 
ern range  of  the  xVorthem  hare,  he 
was  misled  by  Forster,  and  suppos- 
ing Kalm's  rabbit  referred  to  the 


t'   ; 


188 


GRAY  RABBIT. 


TRANSLATION. 


In   Hudson's  Bay,   Canada,  and 

Mew-England,  it  changes  in  au- 
tumn this  sliort  summer  hair  into  a 
long  silky  Cur,  white  from  the  roots, 
and  only  the  border  of  the  ears  and 
the  tail  preserve  their  colour,  (Pen- 
nant, Kalm.) 

In  the  Southern  parts,  his  colour, 
even  in  the  coldest  winters,  remain.^ 
unchanged,  (Kalm.)  He  might, 
therefore,  be  properly  called  the 
half  changing  hare 


REMARKS. 


same  species,  he  ((uoted  Kalm  as 
authority  for  its  rxistcncri  as  far 
south  as  Florida. 

The  Gray  Rabbit  does  not  change 
in  this  manner.  He  meant  by  this 
to  show  that  whilst  this  species  be- 
came white  in  winter,  the  border  ol 
the  ear  and  upper  part  of  the  tail 
underwent  no  change. 


SciiREDER,  never  having  been  in 
America,  had  to  compile  his  account 
of  its  habits  from  others.  It  is  easi- 
ly seen  that  in  this  he  was  misled 
by  FoRSTER,  who  misunderstood 
Kalm  ;  the  latter  having  here  re- 
I'erred  to  the  Gray  Rabbit,  which 
never  changes  its  colour. 


Dekay  conceives  Schheder  to  have  descr'  /cd  the  Gray  Rabbit,  from  the 
abundance  of  the  species ;  but  the  Northern  hare,  where  it  does  exist,  is 
not  less  abundant.  In  particular  localities  in  the  Northern  States,  it  is 
more  frequently  met  with  than  the  Gray  Rabbit  in  the  Middle  or  Southern 
States. 

Hearne  says  that  on  the  south  side  of  Anawed  Lake  they  were  so 
plentiful,  that  .several  of  the  Indians  caught  twenty  or  thlrt.v  of  a  night 
with  snares ;  and  at  Hudson's  Bay,  where  all  the  specimens  first  brought 
to  Europe  were  procured,  it  is  represented  as  very  abundant. 

We  think  we  have  now  shown  that  Schreber's  account  of  L.  nanus — 
its  size,  length  of  legs,  the  black  margin  around  the  ear,  its  change  of 
colour,  and  his  references  io  authors,  all  prove  explicitly  that  he  had  no 
reference  to  the  Gray  Rabbit,  but  described  the  Northern  hare. 

His  name  must  therefore  ^tard  as  a  synonyme  of  L.  Americanus^  which 
is  to  be  somewhat  regretted,  as  although  the  nr  me  itself  is  very  objec- 
t'nable,  his  description  of  that  species  appears  to  us  the  best  that  was 
given  from  its  first  describer,  Forster,  down  to  the  time  of  Richardson 
whose  description  is  so  accurate  that  nothing  need  be  added  to  it. 


X 


4> 


V 


^  ^ 


V 


5 


Pi. 


189 


GENUS  MLTS.— Linn. 


Incisive 


Canine  — ;   Molar  —  =  16. 
0—0  a_3 


*Jlieek-teeth,  furnished  with  tubercles;  ears,  oblong  or  round,  nearly 
naked:  without  cheek-pouches;  fore-feet,  with  four  toes,  and  a  wart 
crvered  with  an  obtuse  nail  in  place  of  a  thumb;  hind-feet,  pendac- 
fylous;  tail,  long,  usually  naked  and  scaly;  fur,  with  a  few  long, 
scattered  iiairs,  extending  beyond  the  rest. 

The  generic  name  Mus  is  derived  from  the  Latin  mus,  a  mouse,  from 
the  Greek  a**«,  (wjusJ  a  mouse. 

There  are  upwards  of  two  hundred  species  of  this  genus  described  as 
existing  in  various  quarters  of  the  globe,  of  which  about  wine  well-deter- 
mined  species  are  found  in  North  America,  three  of  which  have  been  in. 
troduced. 


i(j 


MUS  RATTUS.— LiTO. 

Black  Rat. 
PLATE  XXIir.— Old  and  Youno,  of  various  Cor.ouRS. 

M.  Cauda  corpore  longiore ;  podihns  anterioribus  ungue  pro  pollice  in- 
structis;  corpore  atro,  subtus  cinerco. 

CHARACTERS. 

Tail,  longer  than  the  body;  fore-fecf,  with  a  claw  tn  place  of  o  tl,un,h 
hluish-hlack  above,  dark  ash-coloured  beneath. 


p. 


SVNONYMES. 

Mus  Rattus,  Linn.,  12tli  od.,  p.  83. 

"         "        Sclireber,  Silugetniere,  p.  647. 

"         "        Dv'smitr.,  in  Nouv.  Diet.,  29.  p.  48.' 
Rat,  Ruflon,  Hist.  Nat,,  vol.  vii..  p.  278,  t.  30. 
Rat  Ordinaikk,  Cuv.,  RiVpno  Anim.,  p.  107. 
Black  Rat,  Penn.,  Arc.  Zool,  vol.  !.,  p.  129. 
Roller  Pontopp.,  Dun.  i.,  p.  611. 


190 


BLACK  RAT. 


« 
« 


Mus  lUrrus,  GriflSth's  Animal  Kingdom,  vol.  v.,  578,  6. 
"         "        Harlan,  p.  148. 

"        Godman,  vol.  ii.,  p.  83. 
"        Richardson,  p.  140. 

Emmons,  Report  on  Quadrupeds  of  Massachusetts,  p.  63. 
"        Dekay,  Natural  History  of  New- York,  vol.  i.,  p.  80. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Head,  long ;  nose,  sharp  pointed ;  lower  jaw,  short ;  ears,  large,  ovai, 
broad  and  naked.     Whiskers,  reaching  beyond  the  ear. 

Body,  smaller  and  more  delicately  formed  than  that  of  the  brown  rat : 
thickly  clothed  with  rigid,  smooth,  adpressed  hairs. 

Fore-feet,  with  four  toes,  and  a  claw  in  place  of  a  thumb.  Feet,  plan- 
tigrade,  covered  on  the  outer  surface  with  short  hairs.  Tail,  scaly, 
slightly  and  very  imperfectly  clothed  with  short  coarse  hairs.  The  tail 
becomes  square  when  dried,  but  in  its  natural  state  is  nearly  round. 
Mammaj,  12. 


COLOUR, 

Whiskers,  head,  and  all  the  upper  surface,  deep  bluish-black ;  a  few 
white  hairs  interspersed  along  the  back,  giving  it  in  some  lights  a  shade 
of  cinereous ;  on  the  under  surface  it  is  a  shade  lighter,  usually  cinereous. 
Tail,  dusky;  a  few  light-coloured  hairs  reaching  beyond  the  toes,  and 
covering  the  nails. 


niMENSIONS. 


Length  of  head  and  body 
tail       - 


8   inches. 
8i     do. 


IIABITP. 


The  character  of  this  species  is  so  notoriously  bad,  that  were  we  to  write 
a  volume  in  its  defence  we  would  fail  to  remove  those  prejudices  which 
are  every  where  entertained  against  this  thieving  cosmopolite.  Possess- 
ir  g  scarcely  one  redeeming  quality,  it  has  by  its  miscnievous  propensities 
caused  the  world  to  unite  in  a  wish  for  its  extermination. 

The  Black  Rat  is  omnivorous,  nothing  seeming  to  come  amiss  to  its 
voracious  jaws-flesh,  lowl  or  fish,  and  grain,  fruit,  nuts,  vegetables,  &c., 
whether  raw  or  cooked,  being  indiscriminately  devoured  by  it.  It  is  very 
fond  of  plants  that  contain  much  saccharine  or  oleaginous  matter. 

The  lavourite  abodes  of  this  species  are  barns  or  granaries,  holes  under 
out-houses  or  cellars,  and  such  like  places ;  but  it  does  not  confine  itself 
to  any  particular  locality.     We  have  seen  its  burrows  under  cellars  used 


BLACK  RAT. 


191 


for  keeping  the  winter's  supply  of  sweet  potatoes  in  Carolina  in  dykes 
surrounding  rice-fields  sometimes  more  than  a  mile  from  any  dwelling 
and  It  makes  a  home  in  clefts  of  the  rocks  on  parts  of  the  Alleghany 
mountains,  where  it  is  very  abundant. 

In  the  neighbourhood  of  the  small  streams  which  are  the  sources  of  the 
Edisto  river,  we  found  a  light-coloured  variety,  in  far  greater  numbers 
than  the  Black,  and  we  have  given  three  figures  of  them  in  our  Plate 
They  were  sent  to  us  alive,  having  been  caught  in  the  woods,  not  far  from 
a  miU-pond.     We  have  also-observed  the  same  variety  in  Charleston  and 
received  specimens  from  Major  Leconte,  who  obtained  them  in  Georgia 
During  the  summer  season,  and  in  the  autumn,  many  of  these  rats  as 
xvell  as  the  common  or  Norway  rat,  {Mus  decumanm,)  and  the  common 
mouse,  {Mus  mmculus,)  leave  their  hiding  places  near  or  in  the  farmer's 
barns  or  hen-houses,  and  retire  to  the  woods  and  fields,  to  feed  on  various 
wild  grasses,  seeds,  and  plants.     We  have  observed  Norway  ra»s  bur 
rowing  in  banks  and  on  the  borders  of  fields,  far  from  any  inhabited 
building;  but  when  the  winter  season   approaches  they  again  resort  to 
their  former  haunts,  and  possibly  invite  an  ad  litional  party  to  join  them 
The  Black  Rat,  however,  lives  in  certain  parts  of  the  country  permanently 
m  localities  where  there  are  no  human  habitations,  keeping  in  crevices 
and  fissures  in  the  rocks,  under  stones,  or  in  hollow  logs. 

This  species  is  by  no  means  so  great  a  pest,  or  so"  destructive,  as  the 
brown  or  Norway  rat,  which  has  in  many  parts  of  the  country  either 
driven  off  or  exterminated  it.  The  Black  Rat,  in  consequence,  has  become 
quite  rare,  not  only  in  America  but  in  Europe. 

Like  the  Norway  rat  this  species  is  fond  of  eggs,  young  chickens,  ducks 
&c.,  although  its  exploits  in  the  poultry  house  are  surpassed  by  the  au-' 
dacity  and  voraciousness  of  the  other. 

We  have  occasionally  observed  barns  and  hen-houses  that  were  infested 
by  the  Black  Rat,  in  which  the  eggs  or  young  chickens  remained  unmo- 
lested for  months  together  ;  when,  however,  the  Rats  once  had  a  taste  ol 
these  delicacies,  they  became  as  destructive  as  usual,  and  nothing  could 
save  the  eggs  or  young  fowls  but  making  the  buildings  rat-proof,  or  kill 
Ing  the  plunderers. 

The  following  information  respecting  this  species  has  been  politoK 
communicated  to  us  by  S.  W.  Roiikktu,  Esu.,  civil  engineer:— 

"In  April,  1831,  when  leading  the  exploring  party  which  located  tlie 
portage  railroad  over  the  Alleghany  mountains,  in  Pennsylvania,  I  found  a 
multitude  of  these  animals  living  in  the  crevices  of  the  silicious  limestone 
rocks  on  the  Upper  Coneinaugh  river,  in  Cambria  count),  where  the  large 
viaduct  over  'hat  stream  now  stands.     The  county  wns  tlun  n  wlld»r 


i      Nil 


';i 


"■n 


I  ;  i^ill 


.■T'l'   I 


I  I     •• 


n 


192 


BLACK  RAT. 


ness,  and  as  soon  as  buildings  were  put  up  the  rats  deserted  the  rocks 
and  established  themselves  in  the  shanties,  to  our  great  atinoyance ;  so 
that  one  of  my  assistants  amused  himself  shooting  at  them  as  he  lay  in 
bed  early  in  the  morning.  They  ate  all  our  shoes,  whip-lashes,  &c., 
&c.,  and  we  never  got  rid  of  them  until  we  left  the  place." 

We  presume  that  in  this  locality  there  is  some  favourite  food,  the  seeds 
of  wild  plants  and  grasses;,  as  well  as  insects,  lizards,  (Salainandra,)  &c., 
on  which  these  Rats  generally  feed.  We  are  induced  to  believe  that 
their  range  on  the  AUeghanies  is  somewhat  limited,  as  we  have  on 
various  botanical  excursions  explored  these  mountains  at  different  points 
to  an  extent  of  seven  hundred  miles,  and  although  we  saw  them  in  the 
houses  of  the  settlers,  we  never  observed  any  locality  where  they  existed 
permanently  in  the  woods,  as  they  did  according  to  the  above  account. 

The  habits  of  this  species  do  not  differ  very  widely  from  those  of  the 
brown  or  Norway  rat.  When  it  obtains  possession  of  premises  that  re- 
main unoccupied  for  a  few  years,  it  becomes  a  nuisance  by  its  rapid 
multiplication  and  its  voracious  habits.  We  many  years  ago  spent  a  few 
days  with  a  Carolina  planter,  who  had  not  resided  at  his  country  seat 
for  nearly  a  year.  On  our  arrival,  we  found  the  house  infested  by  seve- 
ral hundreds  of  this  species ;  they  kept  up  a  constant  squeaking  during 
the  whole  night,  and  the  small  from  their  urine  was  exceedingly  of- 
fensive. 

The  Black  Rat,  although  capable  of  swimming,  seems  less  fond  of  fre- 
quenting the  water  than  the  brown  rat.  It  is  a  more  lively,  and  we 
think  a  more  active,  species  than  the  other ;  it  runs  with  rapidity,  and 
makes  longer  leaps ;  when  attacked,  it  shrieks  and  delends  itself  with  its 
teeth,  but  we  consider  it  more  helpless  and  less  courageous  than  the  brown 
or  Norway  rat. 

It  is  generally  believed  that  the  Black  Rat  has  to  a  considerable  extent 
been  supplanted  both  in  Europe  and  America  by  the  Norway  rat,  which 
it  is  asserted  kills  or  devours  it.  We  possess  no  positive  facts  to  prove 
that  this  is  the  case,  but  it  is  very  prob.ibly  true. 

We  have  occasionally  found  both  species  existing  on  the  same  pre- 
mises, and  have  caught  them  on  successive  nights  in  the  same  traps ;  but 
we  have  invariably  found  that  where  the  Norway  rat  exists  in  iiny  con- 
siderable numbers  the  preseirt  species  does  not  long  remain.  The  Nor- 
way rat  is  not  only  a  gross  feeder,  but  is  bold  and  successful  in  its  attacks 
on  other  animals  and  birds.  We  have  known  it  to  destroy  the  donies- 
t'cated  rabbit  by  dozens ;  we  havi^  seen  it  dragging  a  living  frog  from  the 
.anks  of  a  pond;  we  were  once  witnesses  to  its  devouring  the  young  ol' 
its  own  species,  and  we  see  no  reason  why  it  should  not  pursue  the  Bhtck 


BLACK  RAT. 


193 


Rat  to  the  extremity  of  its  burrow,  and  there  seize  and  devour  it.  He 
h,s  as  ,t  may,  the  latter  is  diminishing  in  number  in  proportion  to 
the  muU.pbcat,on  of  the  other  species,  and  as  they  are  equally  p^olifi^ 
and  equally  cunning,  we  cannot  account  for  its  decrease  on  any  other 
supposition  than  that  it  becomes  the  prey  of  the  more  powerful  and  more 
voracious  Norway  rat. 

The  Black  Rat  brings  forth  young  four  or  five  times  in  a  year;  we 
have^seen  from  .s,x  to  nine  young  in  a  nest,  which  was  large  and  ;om- 
posed  of  eaves,  hay,  decayed  grasses,  loose  cotton,  and  rags  of  vaZs 
Kmds.  picked  up  in  the  vicinity.  various 

GEOGRAPHICAL    mSTRIBUTION. 

ver?t'^'"T  ""T""^  "'""'^  "^°"^  "'  ^'"P«'  ^"d  is  found,  although 
very  paringly,  i„  all  our  maritime  cities.  We  have  met  with  it  occa 
-onally  m  nearly  all  the  States  of  the  Union.  On  some  plantat  onsTn 
Carolina,  particularly  in  the  upper  country,  it  is  the  only  species  and  " 
very  abundant.  We  have,  however,  observed  that  in  some  places'  There 
t  va,  very  common  a  few  years  ago,  it  has  altogether  disappeared,  and 
has  been  succeeded  by  the  Norway  rat.     The  Black  Rat  hasten  t  ans- 

means  of  ships,  as  just  mentioned.  ^ 

GENERAL    REMARKS. 

Pennant,  Kalm,  L.nn^.s,  Pallas,  Desmaivest,  and  other  European 
writers  seem  disposed  to  consider  America  the  Fatherland  of  this  pest  of 
the  civilized  world.  Harlan  adopted  the  same  opinion,  but  Bartram  (v 
he  was  not  misunderstood  by  Kalm,)  did  more  than  any  other  to  perpe" 
tuate  the  error.  * 

ot'thoFr'"°',\r"'  ':^«™^^"««  of  commodities,  the  inhabitants 
ot  the  Eastern  and  Western  Continents  have  presented  each  other  with 
several  unpleasant  additions  to  their  respective  productions,  especialh- 
among  the  insect  tribe.  pei-idu. 

We  are  willing  to  admit  that  the  Hessian  fly  was  not  brought  to  Ame- 
nca  m  straw  from  Hanover,  as  we  sought  in  vain  for  the  ilct  in  Ge  . 
many;  but  we  contend  that  the  Black  Rat  and  the  Norway  rat,  which 

now  foun.l  in  our  country,  were  brought  to  America  from  the  old  world 

T  here  ar.  strong  evi.lenees  of  the  existence  of  the  Black  Rat  m  Persia 

ong  before  the  discovery  of  America,  and  we  have  no  proof  that  i  "i 

known  in  this  country  til!  many  y^-av.  nfter  it.  coIoni.Lio...     1,  i^t^T 


194 


BLACK  RAT 


there  were  rats  in  our  country  which  by  the  common  people  might  have 
been  regarded  as  similar  to  those  of  Europe,  but  these  have  now  beer 
proved  to  be  of  very  different  species.  Besides,  if  the  species  existed  in 
the  East  from  time  immemorial,  is  it  not  more  probable  that  it  should 
have  been  carried  to  Europe,  and  from  thence  to  America,  than  that  it 
should  have  been  originally  indigenous  to  both  continents  ?  As  an  evi- 
dence of  the  facility  with  which  rats  are  transported  from  one  country  to 
another,  we  will  relate  the  following  occurrence  :  A  vessel  had  arrived 
in  Charleston  from  some  English  port,  we  believe  Liverpool.  She  was 
freighted  with  a  choice  cargo  of  the  finest  breeds  of  horses,  horned  cat- 
tle, sheep,  &.C.,  imported  by  several  planters  of  Carolina.  A  few  phea- 
sants {Phasianus  colchicus)  were  also  left  on  board,  and  we  were  in- 
formed that  several  of  the  latter  had  been  killed  by  a  singular  looking  set 
of  rats  that  had  become  numerous  on  board  of  the  ship  One  of  them 
was  caught  and  presented  to  us,  and  proved  to  be  the  Black  Rat.  Months 
after  the  ship  had  left,  we  saw  several  of  this  species  at  the  wharf  where 
the  vessel  had  discharged  her  cargo,  proving  that  after  a  long  sea  voyage 
they  had  given  the  preference  to  terra  firma,  and  like  many  other  sailors, 
at  the  clearing  out  of  the  ship  had  preferred  remaining  on  shore. 

We  have  seen  several  descriptions  of  rats  that  we  think  will  eventually 
be  referred  to  some  of  the  varieties  of  this  species.  The  Mus  Amcricanus 
of  Gmei.in,  Mas  nigricans  of  Rafinesque,  and  several  others,  do  not  even 
appear  to  be  varieties ;  and  we  have  little  doubt  that  our  light-coloured 
variety,  if  it  has  not  already  a  name,  will  soon  be  described  by  some 
naturalist  who  will  consider  it  new.  To  prevent  any  one  from  taking 
this  unnecessary  trouble,  we  subjoin  a  short  description  of  this  variety, 
as  observed  in  Carolina  and  Georgia. 

Whole  upper  surface,  grayish-brown,  tinged  with  yellow ;  light  ash  be- 
neath ;  bearing  so  strong  a  resemblance  to  the  Norway  rat,  that  without 
a  close  examination  it  might  be  mistaken  for  it. 

In  shape,  size,  and  character  of  the  pelage,  it  does  not  differ  from  tlic 
ordinary  black  specimens. 


195 


TAMIAS    QUADRIVITTATUS.-Sat. 

Fcur-Str;ped  Ground-Squirrei,. 
PLATE  XXV.— Malb,  Female,  and  Youno. 

T,  striis  quinque  sub  nigris  longitudinalibus,  cum  quatuor  Pub  albidis 
Jorso  alternatum  distributis;  corpore  magnitudine  T.  Lystori  minore; 
lateribus  rufo  fuscis,  ventre  albo. 

CHARACTERS. 

Smaller  than  Tamias  Lysteri;  five  dark  brown  stripes  and  four  light- 
coloured  stripes  occupying  the  whole  back;  sides,  reddish-brown;  underneath, 
white. 

SYNONYMES. 

SciuRus  QtJADRiviTTATUs,  Say,  Long's  Expedition,  vol.  ii.,  p.  349. 

"  Griffith,  Animal  Kingdom,  vol.  v.,  No.  605. 

"  Harlan,  Fauna,  p.  180. 

"  Godman,  vol.  ii.,  p.  137. 

SciuRus  (Tamias)  Quadrivittatus,  Rich.,  Zool.  Journ.,No.  12,  p.  619,  April,  18i>y ; 

Fauna  Boreali  Americana,  p.  184,  pi.  16. 
Tamias  Minimus,  Bach.,  Journ.  Ac-d.  Nat.  Sc.  Phila.,  vol.  viii.,  part  1.  Young. 


« 


DESCRIPTION. 


Head,  of  moderate  size ;  nosr,  tapering,  but  not  very  sharp.  The  mouth 
recedes  very  much,  (as  in  all  the  other  .species  of  Tamias;)  cheek-pouches, 
of  moderate  size ;  whiskers,  .-bout  the  length  of  the  head ;  eye,  small ;' 
ears,  erect,  of  moderate  length,  clothed  on  both  surfaces  with  very  short 
hairs ;  body,  rather  slender ;  fore-f  ^et,  with  four  toes  and  a  small  thumb, 
armed  with  an  obtuse  nail ;  palms,  naked  ;  claws,  compressed,  and  curved 
Hke  those  of  Tamias  Lysteri.  Hind-feet,  with  five  slender  toes ;  soles, 
covered  with  short  hairs  for  three-fourths  of  their  length ;  tail,  long,  nar- 
row and  sub-distichous 


COLOUR. 


Forehead,  dark-brown,  with  a  few  whitish  hairs  intersnersed  •  a 


nar* 


IfMii 


196 


FOUR-STUIPED  GROUND-SQUIRREL. 


row  black  line  from  the  nostril  to  the  corner  of  the  eye ;  above  and  be- 
neath the  eye,  a  line  of  white,  which  continues  downward  to  the  point  ol 
the  nose. 

A  dark-brown  dorsal  iirie,  commencing  behind  the  ears,  continues  along 
the  back  to  the  insertion  of  the  tail ;  another  line,  which  is  not  quite  so 
dark,  begins  at  each  shoulder  and  ends  on  the  buttocks,  near  the  tail ;  on 
each  flank  there  is  another  shorter  and  broader  line,  which  runs  along 
the  sides  to  near  the  haunches ;  on  each  side  of  the  dorsal  line  there  is  a 
light-coloured  stripe  running  down  to  near  the  insertion  of  the  tail.  The 
outer  brown  stripes  are  also  separated  by  a  line  of  yellowish-white  ;  thus 
the  whole  back  is  covered  by  five  dark  and  four  pale  lines.  From  the 
neck  a  broad  line  of  reddish-brown  extends  along  the  sides,  terminating 
at  the  hips ;  feet,  light  yellowish-brown ;  under  surface  of  the  body,  and 
inner  surface  of  the  legs,  grayish- white. 

The  tail,  which  is  slightly  distichous,  is  composed  of  hairs  yellowish- 
brown  at  the  roots,  then  dark-brown,  and  tipped  with  reddish-brown ;  on 
its  under  surface  they  are  reddish-brown,  then  black  for  a  narrow  space, 
and  reddish-brown  at  the  tips. 


DIMENSIONS. 

A  fine  Male  (killed  Aug.  19th,  1843,  on  the  Upper  Missouri  river.) 

Nose  to  anterior  canthus 

Nose  to  opening  of  ear 

Height  of  ear  ..--.... 

Width  of  ear 

Between  centre  of  eyes 

Length  of  head  and  body 

Tail  (vertebra*) 

Tail  to  end  of  hair  .-..-. 

Heel  to  end  of  hind-claws 

Palm  and  fore-feet  to  claws 

Weight  4  oz. 


i 

inch 

H 

do. 

i 

do. 

t\ 

do. 

f 

do. 

4| 

do. 

3| 

do. 

^ 

do. 

ItV 

do. 

Wr  do. 


HABITS. 

This  pretty  little  species  was  discovered  by  Mr.  Say,  during  Colonel 
Long's  expedition.  Mr.  Say  does  not  however  appear  to  have  seen  much 
of  its  habits,  and  gives  us  but  the  following  short  account  of  them  : — 

"  It  does  not  seem  to  ascend  trees  by  choice,  but  nest-les  in  holes,  and 
on  the  edges  of  rocks.  We  did  not  observe  it  to  have  cheek-pouches. 
Its  nest  is  composed  of  a  most  extraordinary  quantity  of  the  burrs  of  the 


FOUR  STRIPED  GROUND-SQUIRREL. 


197 


cactus,  and  their  branches,  and  other  portions  of  the  large  upright  cactus, 
and  small  branches  of  pine  trees  and  other  vegetable  productions,  suffi- 
cient ill  some  instances  to  fill  an  ordinary  cart.  What  the  object  of  so 
great  and  apparently  so  superfluous  an  assemblage  of  rubbish  may  be 
we  are  at  a  loss  to  conjecture  ;  nor  do  we  know  what  peculiarly  danger- 
ous enemy  it  may  be  intended  to  exclude  by  so  much  labour.  Their  prin- 
cipal food,  at  least  at  tliis  season,  is  the  seeds  of  the  pine,  which  they 
readily  extract  from  the  cones." 

We  met  with  this  species  as  we  were  descending  the  Upper  Missouri 
river  in  1843;  we  saw  it  first  on  a  tree;  afterwards  we  procured  both 
old  and  young,  among  the  sandy  guUeys  and  clay  cliffs  on  the  sides  of  the 
ravines  near  one  of  our  encampments. 

These  Ground  Squirrels  ascend  trees  when  at  hand  and  offering  them 
either  shelter  or  food,  and  seem  to  be  quite  as  agile  as  the  common 
species  Tamius  Lysleri. 

Dr.  Richardson,  who  found  this  Ground  Squirrel  during  his  long  and 
laborious  journeyings  across  our  great  continent,  says  of  it—"  ft  is  an  ex- 
ceedingly  active  little  animal,   and  very  industrious  in  storing  up  pro- 
visions, being  very  generally  observed  with  its  pouches  full  of  the  seeds 
of  leguminous  plants,  bents  and  grasses.     It  is  most  common  in  dry  sandy 
spots,  where  there  is  much  underwood,  and  is  often  seen  in  the  summer, 
among  the  branches  of  willows  and  low  bushes.     It  is  a  lively  restless 
animal,  troublesome  to  the  hunter,  and  often  provoking  him  to  destroy  it, 
by  the  angry  chirruping  noise  that  it  makes  on  his  approach,  and  which 
is  a  signal  of  alarm  to  the  other  inhabitants  of  the  forest.     During  winter 
it  resides  in  a  burrow  with  several  openings,  made  at  the  roots  of  a  tree ; 
and  is  even  seen  on  the  surface  of  the  snow.     At  this  season,  when  the' 
snow  disappears,  many  small  collections  of  hazel-nut  shells,  from  which 
the  kernel  has  been  extracted  by  a  minute  hole  gnawed  in  the  side,  are 
to  be  seen  on  the  ground  near  its  holes." 

Dr.  Richardson  further  informs  us  that  on  the  banks  of  the  Saskatcha- 
wan,  the  mouths  of  the  burrows  of  this  species  are  not  protected  with 
heaps  of  vegetable  substances,  as  described  by  Mr.  Say,  and  we  have  no 
doubt  the  animal  adapts  its  nest  (as  many  of  our  birds  do)  to  the  lo- 
cality  and  circumstances  that  surround  it. 

These  animals  bite  severely  when  captured,  and  probably  resemble 
Tamius  Lysteri  in  their  general  habits  and  mode  of  living. 

GEOGRAPHFCAL    DISTRIBUTION. 

This  species  was  originally  discovered  by  Say,  who  procured  it  on  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  near  the  sources  of  the  Arkansas  and  Platte  rivers. 


f| 


<    I 


f.:i 


1  '1 


1 


t'i '  n 


198 


FOUR  STRIPED  GROUND-SQUIKKEL. 


We  obtained  it  on  the  Upper  Missouri,  and  Mr.  Drummond  brought  spoci 
mens  from  the  sources  of  the  Pearl  river.  It  is  found  as  far  north  as 
Lake  Winnipeg,  in  lat.  50°. 

r.ENERAI,    REMARKS. 

When  we  published  Tamias  minimus,  we  had  some  misgivings  lest  it 
might  prove  the  young  of  the  present  species.  The  discoverer  however 
assured  us  that  the  two  species  did  not  exist  within  many  hundred  miles 
of  each  other,  and  that  the  specimens  he  sent  us  were  those  of  full  grown 
animals ;  we  consequently  ventured  on  their  publication.  Having,  how- 
ever, since  procured  young  specimens  of  T.  quadrivittatus,  we  are'  satis- 
fied  of  the  error  we  committed,  and  hasten  to  correct  it.  In  the  investi- 
gation of  species  existing  in  distant  and  little  known  portions  of  country, 
it  alv^ays  requires  a  length  of  time  to  settle  them  beyond  the  dangor  of 
error.  The  traveller  who  makes  these  investigations  very  hastily,  and 
seizes  on  a  specimen  wherever  there  is  a  moment's  pause  in  the  journey, 
is  often  himself  deceived,  and  the  describer,  having  perhaps  only  »  single 
specimen,  is  very  apt  to  fall  into  some  mistake.  The  investigation  of  de- 
Bcribed  species  in  every  branch  of  natural  history,  both  in  Europe  and 
America,  occupied  much  of  the  time  of  the  naturalists  of  our  generation, 
who  corrected  many  of  the  errors  of  a  former  age ;  most  fortunate  are 
they  who  are  permitted  to  live  to  correct  their  own. 


190 


1 1 


SCIURUS    LANI  GINOSUS.-BACHMAN. 

Downy  Squirrel. 
PLATE  XXV. 

S.  auribas  brcvibas.  cauda  subdisticha;  S.  Hudsonico  paullo  robn.tlcr 
8upra  castaneo-fuscus,  subtus  albus,  naso  concolori;  lateribus  am-nteis-' 
occipite  macule  distincto.  ' 

CHARACTERS. 

Ears,  Short ;  tail,  sub-distickou.  ,•  light  chesnut-brown  ov  the  upper  sur- 
/«ce ;  srdes,  sUrer-gray.  A  spot  on  the  hind  part  of  the  heudLe,  and 
u,der  surface  of  body,  pure  white.     A  little  stouter  than  S.  Hudsonius. 

SYNONYME. 
DESCRIPTION. 

Head    broader  than  in  S.   Hudsonius;  forehead,  much  arched;  ear^ 
hort  and  oval;   whiskers,  longer  than  the  head;   feet  and  toes,  shor^ 
hurnb.  armed  with  a  broad  fla.  nail.     Nails,  compressed  and  acute ;  the 
third,  on  the  fore-feet,  longest. 

The  tail,  (which  bears  some  resemblance  to  that  of  the  flying  squirrel 
Rvnlucello^  is  clothed  with  hairs  a  little  coarser  than  those  on  the  back 
an  .  much  shorter  than  the  body.  On  the  fore-feet  the  palms  are  nel  Iv 
naked  the  under  surface  of  the  toes  being  only  partially  covered  with 
hair;  but  on  the  hmd-feet,  the  under  surface  from  the  heel  to  the  el 
tremity  of  the  nails  ,s  thickly  covered  with  soft  short  hairs.  Fur  softer 
and  rnore  downy  than  that  of  any  other  of  our  species.  The  fur  indicates 
that  the  animal  is  an  inhabitant  of  a  cold  region. 

COLOUR. 

Teeth,  dark  orange;  whiskers,  brown;  fur  on  the  back  from  the  root., 
to  near  the  tip  of  the  hair,  light  plumbeous,  tipped  with  lighf  ohesnut 


in 
fll 


iU 


ii 


■fil 


200 


DOWNY  MQUIRRRL. 


lirowii ,  OR  (ho  si(lr'<  (l\>]yri]  with  f<ilvfr-u;ruy.  A  broad  line  of  whftp 
nroiiiul  fill'  cyt's,  ii  spot  of  vvliilc  on  lln-  hiiiii  piiK  of  tlit>  hvnd,  u  little  in 
udviiiicc  of  tlir  mitrrior  portion  of  tlir  vixrs;  nos»',  wliitr,  wliicli  colour 
rxfcndM  alon^  tlic  forclu'iKl  over  tlm  « y<>s,  where  it  i»  (i^radually  hh-nded 
with  the  colour  of  the  Imek  ;  the  whole  under  siirlhce,  I'eet,  Jind  inner 
Hurl'ace  of  the  lejjs,  pure  white.  'I'liil,  irre^jiilarly  eov«'red  with  niarkintrs 
of  hiaek,  li;;ht  hrown,  and  white,  scarcely  two  hairs  being  unifoim  in 
colour. 

In  >j:en(>ral  it  niny  be  said  that  the  tail,  when  examined  without  re- 
terence  to  its  sejmrate  hairs,  is  li>j;ht-aNh  at  the  roots  of  the  hairs,  a  broad 
but  not  wt '"  ciclined  line  of  li^ht  rufous  siieceedinj;,  then  a  dark  br.  wn 
.-•pnco  in  the  lu     \  which  are  tipped  with  rufous  and  gray. 


»IMEN8tON;». 


Length  of  head  and  body 
■*  tail  (vertebra-) 

"  toil,  including  fur 

Palm,  and  middle  fore-elaw 

Sol(>  and  middle  liind-elaw 

Length  of  fur  on  the  back 

Height  of  ear,  measured  jxisteriorly 

Distance  b«'tween  the  orl)its 


IllfI.ex. 

LiiiM 

7 

11 

4 

8 

0 

0 

1 

0 

i 

0 

() 

7 

0 

5 

0 

(S 

HAIUTS. 


This  downy  and  beautifully  furred  squirrel  exists  in  the  north-western 
portions  of  our  continent.  Tho  specimen  fron;  which  our  drawing  was 
made,  is  the  only  one  which  we  have  seen,  and  was  brought  from  near 
SitUa,  by  Mr.  .1.  K.  Townsrni),  who  kindly  placed  k  in  our  hands,  in  order 
that  we  might  describe  it.  As  the  animal  was  pre^  entcd  to  Mr.  Town- 
send  by  an  ollicer  attached  to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  and  was  not 
observed  by  him,  he  could  give  us  no  account  of  its  hai)its.  We  think, 
however,  that  fro ti  its  close  fipproximation  to  that  group  of  squirrels  of 
which  the  Hudson's  Bay,  or  chickaree  squirrel,  is  the  type,  and  with 
which  we  are  familiar,  we  can  fonn  a  pretty  corn^ct  judgment  in  regard 
to  its  general  characteristics,- and  we  will  venture  to  say  that  it  is  less 
agile  and  less  expert  in  climbing  than  fhi  chickaree;  it  no  doubt  burrows 
in  the  earth  in  winter  like  the  latter  species,  and  as  its  tail  is  more  like 
that  of  a  spcrmoi)lulc  than  the  tail  of  a  squirrel  although  (he  rest  of  its 
specific  characters  are  tlu;;"  of  the  true  sqiiirrels,  w;-  ;ir>:  disposed  to  con- 
sider it  a  closely  connecting  link  between  theiie  two  genera,  and  it  very 


DOWNY  SQIIIHHKL. 


201 


probul.ly,  ucoonling  to  ciruimstanceH,  adoptn  the  mode  of  life  commonlv 
'ilmi'r',  rd  in  each. 


aKooRAPiiirAi,  DiHTRtinrnoN. 

This  Npccos  is  fon.ul  sovc-n,!  .h-nn-.-s  to  tho  north  of  the  Oo),„„hia 
nver.  and  is  said  to  .xt.-.ui  .hron^h  tho  country  adjoining,  tho  sni-ooast 
ns  far  as  into  the  Kussian  sotthunrnts.  Mr.  Tovvnhpn,,  says  "It  wan 
ollrd  on  Ihe  roast  near  .Sitka,  an.!  j,nven  me  by  u.y  fri-nd,  W.  l'\  To,,m.k 
b-u.,  ,SurK«-on  of  ttio  HciruraMc-  IFudson's  IJay  Comnanv" 
20  ^' 


202 


GENl  S  GULO.—Storr. 


DENTAL    FORMULA. 


1—1 


6-i 


incisive  - ;  Canine  — ;  Molar  —  =  3^- 
•  i-i  *  *• 

The  three  first  molars  in  the  upper,  and  the  four  first  in  tbe  lower 
jaw,  small ;  succeeded  by  a  larger  carnivorous  or  trenchant  tooth,  and  a 
small  tuberculous  tooth  at  the  back. 

In  the  upper  jaw  the  three  first  molars  are  uni-cuspidateous,  and 
may  be  called  false-carnivorous  teeth,  increasing  successively  in  size ;  the 
following  or  carnivorous  tooth  is  large  and  strong,  furnished  with  two 
points  on  the  inner  side,  and  a  trenchant  edge  in  front ;  the  last  tooth 
is  small,  and  tuberculous  or  flatfish. 

In  the  lower  jaw  the  first  four  molars  are  false,  each  presenting  only 
one  point  or  edge ;  the  fifth  is  long  and  large,  with  two  trenchant  points ; 
the  last  molar  is  nearly  flat.  All  the  teeth  touch  each  other  successively. 
(Cuv.) 

Head,  of  moderate  length ;  body,  long ;  legs,  short ;  tail,  bushy ;  feet, 
with  five  deeply  divided  toes,  terminated  by  long  curved  nails. 

No  glandular  pouch  in  some  of  the  species,  but  a  simple  fold  beneath 
the  tail. 

Habits,  carnivorous  and  nocturnal. 

The  generic  name  is  derived  from  the  La<in  gulo,  a  glutton. 

Four  species  of  this  genus  have  been  described  ;  one  existing  in  the 
Arctic  regions  of  both  continents,  two  in  South  America,  and  one  in 
Africa. 


GULO    LUSCUS.  — Linn. 


The  Wolverene,  or  Glutton. 

PLATE  XXVI. 

G.  subniger;   "vscia  subalbida  utrinquo   a  humero  p(>r  ilia   product'i, 
fusclis  supra  coxas  se  jungentib  is;  caudft  pills  longis  hirsutl 


THE  WOLVERENE. 


CHARACTERS. 


2n.'i 


Dark-broum,  passing  into  black,  above ;  a  pale  band  on  each  side,  runnuvr 
from  the  shoulders  around  the  flanks,  and  uniting  on  the  hips ,-  tail,  with  long 
hushv  hairs. 


'"■SI 


SYNONYM,'?8. 

MusTELA  GuLo,  Linn.,  Syst.  Nat.,  12tli  edit. 
Uiisus  Lascus,  Linn.,  Syst.,  Nai.,  12th  edit. 
Ursus  Gulo,  Pallas,  do.,  Schreber,  SUugeth.,  p.  525. 

"     F.  Cuv.,  in  Diet,  des  Sc.  Nat.,  19th  edit.,  p.  79,  c.  ti^r 
QuicKiiATCH  or  Wolverine.  Ellis,  Voy.  Hudson's  Bay,  p.  42 
Ursus  Fret.  Hud-sonis,  Briss,  Quad.,  p.  188. 
WoLVERiNtt,  Cartwrignt's  Journal,  vol.  ii.,  p  407 

WoLVERi.N.,  Pennant's  Hi^t    Q„,d.,  vol.  ii.;  p.  8,  t.  8,  Hearne's  Journey,  p.  372. 
^ULo  AR..T1CU8,  var.  A.  Glouton  Wolverine.,  Desm.,  Mamm.,  p.  174. 
Gulo  Luscus,  (Capt.)  Sabine,  supp.  Parry's  1st  Voyage,  p.  184. 

Sabine,  (Mr.)  Franklin's  1st  Journey,  p.  650. 

Richardson's  Appendix  Parry's  2d  Voyage,  p.  29i' 

Fischer's  Maminalium,  p>  154. 
The  Gh-tton,  Buffon,  vol.  vii.,  p.  274,  pi.  243. 
Ursus  Gulo,  Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.,  vol.  i.,  p.  46. 
Gulo  Vulgaris,  Griffith's  Animal  Kingdom,  sp.  331. 
Gui.o  Wolvekkvk,  Gritfith's  Animal  Kingdom,  sp.  332. 
Gulo  Luscus,  Ricii.,  F.  B.  A.,  p.  41. 

"         Capt.  Ross,  Expedition,  p.  8. 
Carcajou,  French  Canadians;  Quickhatch,  English  residents. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Head,  of  moderate  size,  broad  on  the  hinder  part,  much  arched,  rounded 
on  all  .ides  ;  nose,  obtuse,  naked  ;  eyes  small ;  ears,  short,  broad,  rounded 
and  partially  hid.ion  by  the  surrounding  I'ur.  The  whole  head  bears  a 
strong  resemblance  to  that  of  some  of  the  varietiea  of  the  dog. 

Body,  very  long,  .stout,  and  compactly  made;  back,  arched;  the  whole 
lorm  indicating  strength  without  much  activity.  The  Wolverene  is 
covered  with  a  very  thick  coat  of  two  distinct  kinds  of  hair.  The  inner 
fur,  sort  and  short,  scarcely  an  inch  long;  the  intermixed  hair.s,  nume- 
rous ngul,  smooth,  and  four  inches  long;  giving  the  animal  the  appear- 
ance  ol  some  shaggy  dog. 

Leg.s,  short  ind  stout;  feet,  broad,  clothed  on  the  under  surface  with  a 
compact  mass  of  woolly  hair.  Toes,  distinct,  and  armed  with  five  strong 
rounde.l,  and  pretty  sharp  elaw...  The  tracks  made  in  the  slow  by  this 
species  are  large,  and  nol  v,tv  i  nlilu-  th<..sr  „1'  ilu.  I,,..,,      ti.,,,.,,  ..,.,,  ,• 


204 


THE  WOLVERENE. 


tubercles  on  the  soles  of  the  fore-feet,  and  foui  on  the  hind-feet ;  no  tuber 
cle  on  the  heel. 

The  tail  is  rather  short,  hangs  low,  and  is  covered  with  pendulous 
hairs.  "There  are  two  secretory  organs  about  the  size  of  a  walnut,  from 
which  it  discharges  a  fluid  of  a  yellowish-brown  colour  and  of  the  con- 
sistence of  honey,  by  the  rectum,  when  hard  pressed  by  its  enemies." — 
Ilosa. 

COLOUR. 

Under  fur,  deep  chesnut-brown,  a  shade  lighltr  near  the  roots;  the 
longer  hairs  are  blackish-brown  throughout  their  whole  length,  the 
hair  having  very  much  the  appearance  of  that  of  the  bear.  Eyes,  nose, 
and  whiskers,  black ;  a  pale  reddish-brown  band  commences  behind  the 
shoulder,  and  running  along  the  flanks,  turns  up  on  the  hip,  and  unites 
on  the  rump  with  similar  markings  on  the  opposite  side.  There  is  a 
brownish-white  band  across  the  forehead  running  from  ear  to  ear.  On 
the  sides  of  the  neck  there  are  tufts  of  white  hair  extending  nearly  in  a 
circle  from  the  inside  of  the  legs  around  the  chest.  Legs  and  tail,  brown 
ish-black;  claws,  dark-brown.  The  colour  varies  greatly  in  diflerent 
specimens,  and  although  there  is  a  strong  general  resemblance  among  ;ill 
we  have  examined,  we  are  not  surprised  that  attempts  have  been  made 
from  these  varieties  to  nmltiply  the  species.  There  are  however  no  per- 
manent varieties  among  the  many  specimens  we  llavt^  examined.  The 
peculiar  lateral  band,  although  it  exists  in  all,  diflers  a  few  shades  in 
colour.  In  some  specimens  it  is  of  a  chesnut  colour,  in  others  light  fer- 
ruginous, and  in  a  few  cases  ash-coloured.  We  find  these  diflerenccs  of 
colour  existing  in  both  continents,  and  not  confined  to  either.  We  have 
never  seen  a  specimen  of  a  Wolverene  as  light  in  colour  as  that  to  which 
LiNNAUjg  gave  the  specific  name  of  liisciis,  and  we  regard  it  as  a  mere 
accidental  variety.  We  have  found  American  specimens  obtained  in  the 
Polar  regions  fully  as  black  as  those  from  Russia. 

DIMENSIONS. 

Uecent  specimen,  obtained  in  Rensselaer  county,  N.  Y. 

Feet. 
From  point  of  nose  to  root  of  t;iil         .         .  o 

Tail  (vertebra^) o 

Heigh  1,  to  shoulder i 

"      of  ear,  posteriorly     ....  o 

Length  of  hair  on  l)()dy        -         .  .  o 

From  heels  (<)  point  of  nails         .  .  o 

Ureudtli  of  hind-toot  •        -  o 


Indies. 

Lines 

9 

0 

8 

0 

0 

0 

I 

6 

4 

0 

5 

0 

4 

7 

THE  WOLVERENE. 
Specimen  from  which  our  figure  was  made. 

From  point  of  nose  to  root  of  tail 
Tail  (vertebra;)  ... 

Tail,  including  fur      - 
Height  of  ear     -        .        -        .        . 

HABITS. 


305 


Fttt.  Iiiclibe.  Lilies 
2         6  0 

0         0  0 

0  10  0 

0         1  .J 


The  Wolverene,  or  Glutton  as  he  is  generally  called,  is  one  of  the  ani 
mals  whose  h.story  comes  down  to  us  blended  with  t  e  superstln?  "f 
fhe  old  wnters.     Errors  when  once  received  and  published   eZZu- 
■they  possess  the  charm  of  great  singularity  or  are  connected  Xta 
of  wonder,  become  fastened  on  the  mind  by  early  readin^r  and  ih 
pressions  formed  in  youth,  until  we  are  ^J^iarid/::^12^Z 
gance   and  we  at  length  regret  to  find  ideas  (however  incorrect)  TdTp Ld 
ZZ^!:!::  ""  '''"'''  ''  '''  *^  ^"^"^^^-  -^  investigatiois  ofta- 
The  Wolverene,  confined  almost  exclusively  to  Polar  regions  where 
men  have  enjoyed  few  advantages  of  education    and  hence  havl  fr^ 
bbed  without  much  reflection  the  errons,  extravagances  and  inv  ntil 
"i  hunters  and  trappers,  has  been  represented  as  an  animal   poss 
.xtraor  mary  strength,  agility,  and  cunning,  and  as  being  pr'ove  • ,  i.  : 

tells  us  that     .t,s  wont  when  it  has  found  the  carcass  of  some  lan^e 
east  to  eat  untd  its  belly  is  distended  like  a  drum,  when  it  rids  Ld  tf 
us   oad  by  squeezmg  its  body  betwixt  two  trees  growing  near  together, 
and  agam  returnmg  to  Us  repast,  soon  requires  to  have  recourse  to  the 
same  means  of  relief."     It  is  even  said  to  throw  down  the  moss  which  the 
remdeer  IS  ,o„d  of   and  that  the   Arctic   fox  is  its  jackal  or  provider 
G..ro.,  m  h.s  first  description  of  this  animal,  seems  to  have  adapted  the 
errors  and  superstitions  of  O.aus  M.,..s,  SonoBrr.H,  G.s.v.h,  and  the 
early  trave  lers  into  Sweden  and  Lapland.     He  savs  of  this  animal   (vol 
vn..  p  .77,)  "the  delect  of  nimbleness  he  supplies  with  cunninr    J^ 
n  wa.t  <or  an.mals  as  they  pass,  he  climbs  upon  trees  in  or.l  r  to  dar 
pon      ,s  prey  and  seize  it  with  advantage;   he  throws  himself  dow 
upon  elks  and  reindeer,  an.l  fixes  so  firmly  on  their  bo,lios  with  his  clau^ 
an    teeth  that  nothing  can  remove  him.     In  vain  .lo  the  poor  victims    y 
and  rub  themselves  against  trees;  the  enemy,  attached  to  the  crupper  cr 
neck,  continues  to  suck  their  bloo.l,  to  enlarge  the  wound,  and  to  devour 
.lu-m  gradually  and  with  ...pial  voracity,  till  they  fall  down  " 

"More  ...satiable  a..d  rapacious  than  t  e  wolC  if  endowed  with  e.pial 


B 


r. 


^1 


206 


THE   WOLVERENE. 


agility  flio  Glutton  would  destroy  all  the  other  animals;  but  he  moves  so 
heavily  that  the  only  animal  he  is  able  to  overtake  in  the  course  is  the 
beaver,  whose  cabins  he  sometimes  attacks,  and  devours  the  whole  unless 
they  quickly  take  to  the  water,  for  the  beaver  outstrips  him  in  swimming. 
When  he  perceives  that  his  prey  has  escaped,  he  seizes  the  fishes ;  and 
when  he  can  find  no  living  creature  to  destroy,  he  goes  in  quest  of  the 
dead,  whom  he  digs  up  from  their  graves  and  devours  with  avidity." 

Even  the  intelligent  Gmelin,  who  revised  and  made  considerable  addi 
tions  to  the  great  work  of  Linn^us,  on  a  visit  to  the  North  of  Europe  im- 
bibed many  of  the  notions  of  the  Siberian  hunters,  and  informs  us,  with- 
out however  giving  full  credence  to  the  account,  that  the  Wolverene 
"watches  large  animals  like  a  robber,  or  surprises  them  when  asleep," 
that  "  he  prefers  the  reindeer,"  and  that  "  after  having  darted  down  from 
a  tree  like  an  tirrow  upon  the  animal,  he  sinks  his  teeth  into  its  body  and 
gnaws  the  flesh  till  it  expires ;  after  which  he  devours  it  at  his  ease,  and 
swallows  both  the  hair  and  skin." 

However,  although  Buffov  in  his  earlier  history  of  the  species  adopted 
and  published  the  errors  of  previous  writers,  he  subsequently  corrected 
them  and  gave  in  a  supplementary  chapter  not  only  a  tolerable  figure  but 
a  true  history.  He  received  a  Wolverene  alive  from  the  northern  part 
of  Russia,  and  preserved  it  for  more  than  eighteen  months  at  Paris.  And 
when  the  Count  was  thus  enabled  to  examine  into  its  habits,  as  they  were 
developed  from  day  to  day,  he  found  them  ot  n.  very  ordinary  charac- 
ter, and  it  was  discovered  to  be  an  animal  possessing  no  very  striking 
peculiarities.  He  informs  us,  "  He  was  ho  tame  that  he  discovered  no 
ferocity  and  did  not  injure  any  person.  His  voracity  has  been  as  much 
exaggerated  as  his  cruelty :  he  indeed  ate  a  great  deal,  but  when  de- 
prived of  food  he  was  not  importunate." 

"  The  animal  is  pretty  mild  ;  he  avoids  water,  and  dreads  horses  and 
men  dress(>d  in  bliick.  He  moves  by  a  kind  of  leap,  and  eats  pretty  vo- 
raciously. After  taking  a  full  meal  he  covers  himself  in  the  cage  with 
straw.  When  drinking  he  laps  like  a  dog.  He  utters  no  cry.  After 
drinking,  he  throws  the  remainder  of  the  water  on  his  belly  with  his 
paws.  He  is  almost  perpetually  in  motion.  If  allowed,  he  would  devour 
more  than  four  pounds  of  flesh  in  a  day  ;  he  eats  no  bread,  and  devours 
his  food  so  voraciously,  and  almost  without  chewing,  that  he  is  apt  to 
choke  himself." 

We  have  seen  this  species  in  a  state  of  confinement  in  Europe  ;  the 
specimens  came,  we  were  informed,  from  tliii  north  of  that  continent. 
In  Denmark,  a  keeper  ol'  a  small  caravan  of  animals  allowed  us  the  pri- 
vilege of  cxamiuing  a  Wolverene  which    .chad  exhibited  for  two  years 


THE  WOLVERENE 


207 


We  took  him  out  of  his  cage;  he  was  very  gentle,  opened  his  „.outh  to 
enable  us  to  examine  his  teeth,  and  buried  his  head  in  our  lap  vZ    . 
admired  his  long  claws  and  felt  his  woolly  feet  •  h.  «  ,     ,  ''^ 

es^pe  n..  jHe  connnement  of  ..  e.::i^1:J:  T^TI:^^^: 
and  made  awk^^rd  attempts  to  play  with  and  caress  us.  which  rem  nled 
s  very  much  of  the  habit  of  the  American  black  bea  .     He  h^  been 
taught  to  sit  on  his  haunches  and  hold  in  his  mouth  a  German  pte 
We  observed  he  was  somewhat  averse  to  the  li^ht  nl'  tK  T  ^^ 

his  e        Ha.  Closed  when  exposed  to  its^:::  ^  te^lMltlZ 
hat  he  suffered  a  good  deal  ll-om  the  heat  in  warm  vveather   tTat  he 
rank  water  freely  and  ate  meat  voraciously,  but  consumerlr;   n  win 
^eha„.„  summer.     There  was  in  the  same  cage  a  marmot  from  X 

tth  .      wr''  """''^''^  '"  '''^''^  ^^^  ^«l^--«  «-rned  much  at 
ached     When  returned  to  his  cage,  he  rolled  himself  up  like  a  ball  ht 
long  shaggy  hairs  so  completely  covering  his  limbs  that  L  presented  the 
appearance  of  a  bear-skin  rolled  up  into  a  bundle 

In  the  United  States  the  Wolverene  has  always  existed  very  sparingly 
and  only  m  the  Northern  districts.     About  thirtv  flv^  vn.  'P'"^'"^'>^' 

in  the  possession  of  a  country  merchant  ^  La    ^^^^Xr^Z 
skins  of  this  species,  that  had  as  we  were  informe^d  ^Loult'onZ 
Green  Mountains  of  Vermont;  about  the  same  time  we  obtled  a^pod 
men  m  Rensselaer  county,  near  the  banks  of  the  Hoosack  Ter     Wh  le 
hunting   the   Northern   hare,   immediately   after  a  heavy  fal    of  ^  w 
we  unexpec  edly  came  upon  the  track  of  an  animal  vvhlh  attheZe' 
we  suppose^  to  be  that  of  a  bea,  a  species  which  even  then  wa     cared 
known  in   hat  portion  of  the  country,  (which  was  already  preltV  h  ck  ' 
se   led.)     We  followed  the  broad  trail  over  the  hills  andYrou^i   h       ' 
V.OUS  windings  of  the  forest  for  about  five  miles,  till  within  silt  of  a 
lodge  of  rocks  on  the  banks  of  the  Hoosack  rive,  Uen   a    ."  fld^n 
m.  t  approaching,  we  were  reluctantly  compeli;d  to  g  ve  uP   he  p  'l^ 
for  that  day,  intending  to  resume  it  on  the  following  morning    It  snow 
mcessantly  for  two  days  afterwards,  and  believing' tZX' be      hadTe 
.redtoh.  winter  retreat,  we  concluded  that  the 'chance  of  adding  tt 
ou    collection  had  passed  by.     Some  weeks  afterwards  a  favouS  ser 
^ant  who  was  always  anxious  to  aid  us  in  our  pursuits,  and"    o  not 
ly  know  many  cpiadrupeds  and  birds,  but  was  acquainted  with  many 
of  their  habits,  mlornied  us  that  he  luul  on  a  previous  day  seen  severa 

Tl teT    A  ^"     r  ^'H^'  ''''''''''  ''-'^''^  ^  --  -''  ^^^^ 
.  _io.est.     As  early  on  the  following  morning  as  we  could  see  a  tra^k 

hounds,  started  on   what  we  conceived  our  second  bear-hunt.     «.(>..« 


W; 


208 


TIIK  WOLVIOHENE. 


rcacliiii«  the  spot  where  the  tnicks  had  been  observed,  however,  we  mci 
a  fresh  trail  of  the  previous  nij^ht,  and  pursued  it  witliout  h)ss  of  time. 
The  animal  had  joined  some  foxes  wliieh  were  feeding  on  a  dead  horse 
not  k-  hundred  yards  from  a  \og  cabin  in  the  forest,  and  after  liaving 
satiated  itself  with  this  delicate  food,  made  directly  for  the  Iloosack 
river,  pursuing  the  same  course  along  which  we  had  formerly  traced  it. 
To  our  surprise  it  did  not  cros  the  river,  now  firmly  bound  with  ice, 
.lut  retired  to  its  burrow,  which  was  not  far  from  the  place  where 
we  had  a  few  weeks  before  abandoned  the  pursuit  of  it.  The  hounds 
had  not  once  broke  into  full  cry  upon  the  track,  but  no  sooner  had  they 
arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  burrow  than  they  rushed  into  the  large 
opening  between  the  rocks,  and  commenced  a  furious  attack  on  the  ani- 
mal within.  This  lasted  but  for  a  few  moments,  and  they  came  out  as 
quickly  as  they  had  entered.  They  showed  some  evidence  of  having 
been  exposed  to  sharp  claws  and  teeth,  and  although  they  had  been  only 
a  moment  engaged  in  battle,  had  no  disposition  to  renew  it.  No  effort 
•>f  ours  could  induce  them  to  re-enter  the  cavern,  whilst  their  furious 
barking  at  the  mouth  of  the  hole  was  answered  by  a  growl  from  within. 
The  animal,  although  not  ten  feet  from  the  entrance,  could  not  be  easily 
reached  with  a  stick  on  account  of  his  having  retreated  behind  an  angle 
in  the  chasm.  As  we  felt  no  particular  disj)()sition  to  imitate  the  ex- 
ploits of  Colonel  1'utnam  in  his  rencontre  with  the  wolf,  we  reluc- 
tantly concluded  to  trudge  homeward  through  the  snow,  a  distance  of 
five  miles,  to  obtain  assistance.  On  tjiking  another  survey  of  the  place, 
however,  we  conceived  it  possible  to  efTect  an  opening  on  one  of  its  sides. 
This  was  after  great  labour  accomplished  by  prying  away  some  heavy 
fragments  of  the  rock.  The  animal  could  now  be  reached  with  a  pole, 
and  seemed  very  much  irritated,  growling  and  snapping  at  the  stick, 
which  he  once  succeeded  in  tearing  from  our  hand,  all  the  while  emitting 
a  strong  and  very  ofTensive  musky  smell.  lie  was  finally  shot.  What 
was  our  surprise  and  pleasure  on  discovering  that  we  had,  not  a  bear, 
but  what  was  more  valuable  to  us,  a  new  species  of  quadruped,  as  we 
believed  it  to  be.  It  was  six  months  before  we  were  enabled,  by  consult- 
ing a  copy  of  BurFON,  to  discover  our  mistake  and  ascertain  that  our 
highly  prized  specimen  was  the  Glutton,  of  which  we  had  read  such  mar- 
vellous tales  in  the  school-books. 

In  some  of  the  figures  that  we  have  seen  of  the  Wolverene,  or  Glutton, 
he  is  represented  as  touching  the  ground  to  the  full  extent  of  his  heel,  and 
in  several  of  the  descriptions  this  h;ii)it  is  also  assigned  to  him.  Our 
notes  in  reference  to  this  point  wen^  made  in  early  life,  and  it  is  possible 
that  we  may  have  laboured  under  a  mistake  ;  but  we  are  confident,  from 


THE  WOLVERENE. 


209 


our  own  observation,  tl.at  tlu,  animal   tread,  upon  its  hin^  r    .  •      . 
-annor  of  the  dog,  „.,,,  tl..,  impression  of  the  taTsu    or  ht "    '"     ^ 
he  observed  in  deen  snow    ..„,1  .1    *  •     ■  "''^'   ""•"  O"'}' 

"..■ »H.i  .,„::,:,•,;,"'  ^Tj-'-^y  -'^  <■"*«  ^o™?, 

livint  W„lv,.,,.„,.  ,ve  ,a„  h,  T  "  "°  °°"'  '"  "'8''"'  ">  'h. 

n«t  .-i-ass  ,„■  „,„„„-„.|,  '",,  In  K  '  '""■'IkinS,  the  feet  d„ 

won;  h,„  ma''  r   ..:'';;;",""'  ™""-  »'■*»  r-.oraf„x„r 

-  juri,,,.  .iH.  Whole  wrr::, I:  ;rr"  """"^  ""^  '-'""■"'^ 

"ho  spot.     It  l,a,l  l-id  „„  „  "  "■"'■J'  '"'■'""''"■  I"-!  to 

i.«  ..i'htiy  ..:i!:^^z^z  r-  r;  rr™"^  •'"^™''»^  ™ 

for  it  was  very  (at.  '      '""™™''  ''"'«'  "«". 

water.     1„  s-eh     11      J,  ''       ""  '"""''  """"'  •"'""•™  «■»">  "he 

which  w.,al„  ,„'„  ve,r     ,i  ,         7"  ■""  T'"^  "''""'  '—•"«»■ 

drivi„,the  oocupaatsir  .    •;r,""""     ""'^  ""•'  "-«■-'■" 

woT:::':;r:t  re::":,-::: :::: " '"— '-  --^ » .^» 

ben,,  kille,!  fcy  aecidon,      "  t  !L  ^  °"°"'"""'  °''  ""•'""'  """  h'"o 

-™...:a,,.oee:io„i^-^~--:™.^ 

''">•  'v-^  w.e .,„ „„ „„ „ „„,„ie.; ,  .i,t  ■"'; i:;:""' "^ '" "■' 

on.,o„ally  captures  Ihc  ,,,.„u,^    L,  ,,„,  '"  ""'  Wolve,-e„e  oc- 

u  protection  ,L  the  eold,  il;.,!,,:,.,,.     '    '""'""'  """  ""  ''«'■  ™-  - 

w.":;::r:,ntTr:':::!:,7  -=  """^^  -  ^■"-'-"  ^»-  «-i=^ 

however  I,  „,e|    ,        it"',  '''^  "  ,""""'>'  """■     ■''I"'  "P"-!  »f  'he  hare 
M,el,  tha,  „  ha,  not  mad,  ,„  (i.„r  from  the  per,everi„B  hu< 


it  ! 


210 


THE  WOLVERENE. 


slow  progress  of  the  Wolvprene;  and  tlie  one  seen  by  Uk-iiardsun,  in  iiis 
efforts  to  catch  the  tempting  game  must  have  been  prompted  by  a  long- 
ing desire  after  hare's  flesli,  rather  than  by  any  confidence  in  his  ability 
to  overtake  the  animal. 

All  Northern  travellers  and  writers  on  the  natural  history  of  the  Arctic 
regions,  Ei.i.is,  Pennant,  IIeaiinp.,  Parry,  Franklin,  Ili('iiARns(3N,  &c.,  speak 
of  the  indomitable  perseverance  of  the  Wolverene  in  following  the  foot- 
steps of  the  trappers,  in  order  to  obtain  the  bait,  or  take  from  the  traps  the 
Arctic  fox,  the  marten,  beaver,  or  any  other  animal  that  may  be  caught 
in  them.  They  demolish  the  houses  built  around  the  dead-falls,  in  order 
to  obtain  the  bait,  .and  tear  up  the  captured  animals  apparently  from 
a  spirit  of  wanton  destructiveness.  Heakne  (p.  373)  gives  an  account 
of  their  amazing  strength,  one  of  them  having  overset  the  greatest  part 
of  a  large  pile  of  wood,  measuring  upwards  of  seventy  yards  round,  to 
get  at  some  provisions  that  had  been  hid  there.  He  saw  another  take 
possession  of  a  deer  that  an  Indian  had  killed,  and  though  the  Indian  ad- 
vanced within  twenty  yards  he  would  not  relincjuish  his  claims  to  it,  but 
suffered  himself  to  be  shot,  standing  on  the  deer.  Hearne  farther  states, 
"they  commit  vast  depredations  on  the  foxes  during  the  summer,  while 
the  young  ones  are  small;  their  quick  scent  directs  them  to  their  den, 
and  if  the  entrance  be  too  small,  their  strength  enables  them  to  widen  it, 
and  go  in  and  kill  the  mother  and  all  her  cubs ;  in  fact  they  are  the  most 
destructive  animals  in  this  country." 

Capt.  J.  C.  Ross,  R.  N.,  F.  II.  S.,  who  gave  an  interesting  account  of  the 
animals  seen  in  the  memorable  expedition  of  Sir  John  Ross,  relates  the 
following  anecdote  of  this  species: — "In  the  middle  of  winter,  two  or 
three  months  before  we  abandoned  the  ship,  we  were  one  day  surprised 
by  a  visit  from  a  Wolverene,  which,  hard  pressed  by  hunger,  had  clindied 
the  snow  wall  that  surrounded  our  vessel,  and  came  boldly  on  deck  where 
our  crew  were  walking  for  exercise.  Undismayed  at  the  presence  of 
twelve  or  fourteen  men,  he  seized  upon  a  canister  that  had  some  meat  in 
it,  and  was  in  so  ravenous  a  state  that  whilst  busily  engaged  at  his  feast 
he  suffered  me  to  pass  a  noose  over  his  head,  by  which  he  was  imme- 
diately secured  and  strangled." 

The  Wolverene  is  at  all  times  very  suspicious  of  traps,  and  is  seldom 
taken  in  the  log-traps  set  for  the  marten  and  Arctic  fox  ;  the  usual  mode 
in  which  it  is  obtained  is  by  steel-tra|)s,  which  nuist  be  set  with  great 
caution  nnd  conoealed  with  much  art. 

Captain  Cartwrioiit  in  his  journal  speaks  of  having  caught  all  he  ob- 
tained at  Labrador  in  this  manner,  and  we  ha\c  seen  several  skins  giving 
evidence  that  the  animals  had  been  taken  by  the  foot. 


THE  WOLVERENE 


211 


Captain  Cartwrioht    see  Journal,  vol   ii    n  dni\  .        j 

Hill  I  crossed  the  Inick  or  a  Wolvcrins  Willi  our  of  M,.   r 

..ap»  on  .lis  foot;  .he  f„„s  had  rollo,™,  hll  ^LLf  ^cr'Ts";"- 

hill,  vvhcie  the  snow  was  so  deep  and  lish.  thai  it  was  with  the  „e-aest 
dttfleulty  CO,  d  follow  him  evei,  i„  Indian  raetets,  I  was  ,„  p"  td 
o  know  how  „  had  eoatrived  to  prevent  the  trap  f™„  eatchii,;  To  d  of 
the  branehes  of  the  trees  or  si„l>i„„  i„  the  snow.  But  on  eomingup  „i,h 
hun  diseovered  how  he  had  nian„,.ed ;  for  after  making  an  'tZZZ 
fly  a.  me,  he  took  the  trap  in  his  month  and  ran  upon  .hrje  legs.  The! 
creature,  are  surprisingly  strong  in  proportion  to  their  size  •  tl  welh.^ 
only  twenty-six  pounds  and  the  trap  eight :  ye.  ineluding  a  I  th  Z  h 
had  taken  he  had  carried  it  six  miles." 

The  Wolverene  produee.  young  but  onee  a  year,  from  two  to  four  at  a 
litte..     R,c,MKnso.v  says  the  cubs  are  covered  with  a  downy  fur  of  a  pile 
or  cream  colour.     The  fur  of  che  Wolverene  resemblin.  thlt  of  tLT 
IS  much  used  for  muds,   and  when  several   sl-iZ  1  '' 

makes  a  beautiful  sleigh-robe.  "'  ''"^'^   '"^«^^«'- 

f5E0GRAPH[CAL    DISTRIBUTION. 

The  Wolverene  exists  in  the  north  of  both  continents.     On  the  Eastern 
contment  U  inhabits  the  most  northern   parts  of  Europe  and  AsiToc 
currm,  m  Sweden,  Norway,  Lapland,  and  Siberia,  as  ZlZ'inZeZ 
the  Alpme  regions,  and  in  the  forests  of  Poland  and  Courland      In  North 
America  it  is  found  throughout  .he  whole  of  the  Arctic  circle      Th. 
ca^iglit  to  ,he  number  often  or  t.elve  every  ^.^X^-  ^^1^^ 
n  Labrador.     It  exists  at  Davis'  Straits,  and  has  been  tr'ced  across     e 
on^men   to  the  shores  of  the  Pacific.     It  is  found  on  the  Russian^ 

ea,  xts  bones  having  been  found  in  Melville  Island,  nearly  in  latitude  75» 

t  occurs  in  Canada,  although  diminishing  in  numbers  the  farth      we  pro' 

ceed  southerly.     We  have  seen  specimens  procured  at  Newlmdlaid" 

pl-ri^;  siif  -'T'u^^'-''  -''  ^^-^"^'^'  ^^^ 

ronssor  J,,,„oss,  (1)p,k.„,  Nat.  Hist,  of  New. York,)  states  that  it  still 
exists  in  the  lloosaek  Mounlains  of  Massaehuset.s  We  e  amined  a 
specimen  obtained  in  Jeirerson  eoun.y,  near  Saeke...  Harbour  ™Yi„ 

' T;r    '"  ""  "'""""'  "  'P'"=""°"  '"  "--"I-'  -»"'y.  latitude 

«   46' ;  we  have  never  heard  of  i.s  existence  farther  south. 


I    ! 


i      I 


ii 


■tv. 


212 


THE  WOLVERENE 


GENERAt,    RBMARKfl. 

This  ypeoie.N  has  been  arranged  by  dilli  i^iit  authors  under  several 
genera.  Linnaeus  placed  it  under  both  MtJ«TEi,LA  and  LTnsus.  Storr  esta- 
blished for  it  the  genus  Gulo,  which  was  formed  from  the  specific  name, 
as  it  had  been  called  Ursus  Gulo,  by  Linx.kus.  Stork's  grnci '  iiaino  has 
been  since  adopted  by  Cuvier  and  other  modern  naturalists.  liRAv  named 
it  Grisoxia.  Linn/eus  is  notwithstanding  entitled  to  the  specific  name, 
although  this  is  tlit  result  oi  an  error  into  which  he  was  hd  in  this  man- 
ner :  Edwards  had  made  a  figure  from  a  living  specimen  imported  from 
America.  It  was  a  strongly  marked  variety,  with  much  white  on  its  tbre- 
head,  sides,  and  neck.  Linnaeus  regarding  it  as  a  new  species,  described 
it  as  such.  In  seeking  for  some  name  by  which  to  designate  it,  he  ob- 
served that  it  had  lost  one  eye,  and  it  is  supposed  applied  th«  trivial 
name  "  luscus,"  one-eyed,  to  the  animal,  merely  on  account  of  the  abov»' 
accidental  blemish. 

The  vulgar  names  Glutton,  Carcajou,  (fee,  have  given  rise  to  inucli 
confusion  in  regard  to  the  habits  of  the  species. 

The  name  '  luKon  induced  many  ancient  authors  to  ascribe  to  it  an 
appetite  of  extravagant  voraciousness. 

Carcajou  appears  to  be  some  Indian  name  adopted  by  the  French,  arid 
this  name  has  evidently  been  applied  to  different  species  of  animals. 
Charlevoix,  in  his  Voyage  to  America,  vol.  i.,  p.  201,  speaks  of  the  "car- 
cajou or  quincajou,  a  kind  of  cat,  with  a  tail  so  long  that  he  twists  it 
several  times  round  his  body,  and  with  a  skin  of  a  brownish  red."  He 
then  refers  to  his  climbing  a  tree,  where  after  two  foxes  have  driven  the 
elk  under  the  tree,  the  cat  being  on  the  watch  pounces  on  it  in  the 
manner  ascribed  to  the  Wolverene.  Here  he  evidently  alludes  to  the 
cougar,  as  his  lomr  tail  and  coloiu-  apply  to  no  other  animal  in  our  coun 
try.  Lawson  refers  the  same  singular  habit  to  the  wild  cat  of  Carolina  ; 
he  says,  (p.  118,)  "  the  wild  oat  talves  most  of  his  prey  by  surprise,  getting 
up  the  trees  which  they  pass  by  or  under,  and  thence  leaping  directly 
upon  them.  Thus  he  takes  deer,  which  he  cannot  catch  by  running,  and 
fastens  his  teeth  into  Jieir  shoulders.  They  run  with  liim  till  they  fall 
down  lor  want  of  strength  and  become  a  prey  to  the  enetiiy." 

In  the  last  work  published  on  American  Quadrupeds,  Lavvp.v  is  quoted 
as  authority  for  the  former  existence  of  the  Wolverene  in  Carolina,  and 
a  reference  is  also  made  to  a  plate  of  that  species.  On  looking  over  the 
work  of  Law.«ov,  (London,  1709,)  we  find  that  no  mention  is  made  of  the 
Wolverene,  and  no  plate  of  the  animal  is  given.     We  have  supposed  it 


THE  WOLVERENE. 


2\A 


possible  that  the  .u.thor  of  the  "Natural  History  of  New-York  "  might 
have  intended  to  refer  to  Catesbv  ;  but  the  latter  gave  no  plato  of  the 
species,  and  only  noticed  it  as  existing  in  the  very  northern  parts  of 
America.  V'^  f,  ,-1  confident  hat  the  geographionl  range  of  the  Wol- 
verene  has  n.  ver  extended  to  Carolina,  tliat  it  ex.  ,1  only  as  strag 
gler  ,n  tne  uunhm  portion  of  the  Middlr.  States,  tnd  that  it  ,s  no-.v 
and  ever  has  been,  limost  c  nt.rcly  confined  to  the  Northern  regions 


I 


If 


i    i 


li^. 


214 


SCIURUS   LANIGERUS.— AuD.  andBapr. 

Woolly  S(iuirrei« 
PLATE  XXVII. 

Sc.  migratorii  magnitudine ;  pilis  longis  et  lanosis ;  cauda  ampla,  vil- 
losa  vixque  disticha ;  naso,  auriculis,  pedibusque  pene  nigris ;  vellere 
supra  ex  cinereo  fusco ;  subtus  dilute  fusco. 


CHARACTERS. 


She  of  Sciurus  migratorius ;  hair,  long  and  ivoolly ;  tail,  large  and 
bushy ;  nose,  ears,  andftet,  nearly  black ,  upper  surface,  grizzly  dark  gray 
and  brown ;  under  parts,  pale  brown. 


8YNONYME. 


SciuTtus  Lanioerus,  Aud.  and  Bach.,  Journal  of  the  Acad,  Nat.  Sc,  Philad.,  1841, 
p.  100 


DESCRIPTION. 

Head,  short ;  forehead,  arched  ;  nose,  blunt ;  clothed  v/ith  soft  hair ; 
whiskers,  longer  than  the  head  ;  eyes,  large ;  ears,  large,  broad  at  basp. 
ovate. 

Body,  .stout,  covered  with  long  and  woolly  hairs,  which  are  much 
longer  and  a  little  coarser  than  those  of  the  Northern  gray  squirrel. 

Legs,  stout ,  feet,  of  moderate  size ;  claw.s,  strong,  compressed,  arched 
and  sharp.  The  third  lue,  longest ;  a  blunt  nail  in  place  of  a  thumb. 
Palms,  na!  od  ;  toes,  hairy  to  the  extremity  of  the  nails. 

Tail,  long  and  bushy,  and  the  hairs  long  and  coarse. 

COLOUR. 

Incisors,  dark  orange  on  the  outer  surface ;  the  head,  both  on  the  upper 
and  lower  surface,  as  far  as  the  neck,  the  ears,  whiskers,  fore-legs  to  the 
shoulder,  feet,  and  inner  surface  of  hind-leg.s,  black;  with  a  few  yellow- 
ish-brown hairs  intermixed.     The  long  fur  on  the  back  is  for  half  its 


WOOLLY  SQUIHRKL. 


215 


lengtlj  from  the  roots.,  light  pluinheous,  then  has  a  line  of  light-brown, 
iind  is  tii)i)f;il  with  redilisii-brown  and  black. 

The  liuir-s  on  the  tail,  in  wliicii  the  aiinulations  are  very  obscure  are 
''«ir  ..  Mhird  of  their  length  brownish-black,  then  light-brown,  then 
brov.ni  h-black,  and  are  tipped  with  ashy-white.  On  the  under  surface 
•ht  h«ir,.  which  are  short,  are  at  the  base  light-plumbeous,  tipped  with 
hgh»  ..  jwn  and  black;  the  throat  is  light  grayish-brown. 

f.  !.»o  specimens  received  from  the  same  locality,  the  head  of  one  is 
lighter-coloured  than  that  of  the  other,  having  a  shade  of  yellowish- 
brown  ;  in  other  respects  they  are  precisely  similar ;  a  figure  of  each  is 
given  on  the  plate. 


DIMENSIONS. 


11^  inches 


10 

do. 

12 

do. 

Of 

do. 

Of 

do. 

2i 

do. 

U 

do. 

Length  of  head  and  body 
Tail  (vertebrae)  ... 

Tail,  to  end  of  fur      - 
Height  of  car  posteriorly 
Breadth  of  ear  ... 

From  heel  to  end  of  middle  claw 
Hairs  on  the  back      ... 


HABITS. 

We  have  been  unable  to  obtain  any  information  in  regard  to  the  habits 
of  this  species.  Its  form,  however,  indicates  that  it  is  a  climber,  like  all 
the  species  of  the  genus,  living  in  forests,  feeding  on  nuts  and  seeds.  Its 
long  woolly  coat  proves  its  adaptation  to  cold  regions. 

GEOORAPIIICAL    DlSTRIBltTlON. 

Our  specimens  were  procured  froir  the  northf-rn  and  mountainous  por- 
tions of  California. 

GENERAL    REMARKS. 

The  difBculty  in  finding  characters  by  which  the  various  species  of 
this  genus  can  be  distinguished,  is  very  great.  There  is,  however,  no 
variety  of  any  other  species  of  scjuirrol  tliat  can  be  compared  with  that 
here  described.  Its  black  head  and  legs,  brown  back  and  belly,  its  broad 
ears  and  long  woolly  hair,  are  markings  by  which  it  may  be  easily  dis- 
tinguished from  all  others. 


(  ■  ■  «. 


if 


■,'7kV- 


21(- 


PTEROMYS    VOLUCELLA.  — Gmel. 

Common  Flying-Suuirrel. 

PLATE  XXVIIL— Males,  Females,  and  Yolno. 

Pt.  Tamias  Lysteri  magnitudine,  supra  ex  fusco-cinereo  et  albido,  infra 
ex  albo. 

CHARACTERS. 

Size  of  Tamias  Lysteri ;  above,  brownish-ash  tinged  with  creain  colour ; 
beneath,  white. 

SYNONYMES. 

AsqAPANicK,  Smith's  Virginia,  p.  27,  1624. 
Sciuiius  Ameuicanus  Volans,  Ray,  Syn.  Quad. 
Flvino  Squirrel,  Lavvson's  Carolina,  p.  124. 
La  Palatoiciie,  Buff.,  X.,  pi.  21. 
SciuRUS  VoLUCELLA,  Pallas,  Glires,  p.  353,  359. 

"  "  Schreher,  Saugetliierc,  p.  808,  23,  t.  222 

"  "  Gmelin,  Linn.,  Syst.  Nat.,  p.  l^~i,  26. 

SciURUs  Vir.oiMiANUS,  Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat. 

"  Shaw's  Gen.  Zool,  vol.  ii.,  p.  155.  t.  15C. 

Flying  Squirrel,  Catesby's  Carohna,  vol.  ii.,  p.  76. 

Pennant's  Quadrupeds,  p.   418,  283. 
Pteromvs  Volucella,  Desni.,  Mamm.,  p.  345,  554. 
"  "  Harlan,  p.  187. 

"  "  Godman,  vol.  ii.,  p.  146. 

"  "  Emmons,  Report,  p.  69. 

"  "  Dekay,  p.  65. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Head,  short  and  rounded;  nose,  blunt;  eyes,  large  and  prominent, 
ears,  broad  and  nearly  naked ;  whiskers,  numerous,  longer  than  the 
head ;  neck,  short ;  body,  rather  thicker  than  that  of  the  chippiiii;  squir- 
rel. The  flying  membrane  is  distended  by  an  additional  small  bone  of 
about  half  an  inch  in  length,  articulated  with  the  wrist.  'I'lie  fur  on  the 
whohi  body  is  very  line,  soft  and  silky;  legs,  rafher  slender;  claws,  feeble 
compressed,  acute,  and  covered  with  hair;  tiiil,  fliit,  disiiclious,  rounded 
It  the  tip,  and  very  thickly  clothed  with  fine  .soft   fur.     Ten  mammu' 


lira 


ur 


nt, 
the 


mr- 


the 
ded 


nav 


M 


.1*1 


N?6 


?l.ireXXV!l[ 


■  ."I  .■   ut'j'r  iiy  n  inisjj.y 


'        '••/-      ,  .  .  .  ■  y  .■         .      "^y  //  /  ^^,/  'K  "^  ')l  /  ,  / 


'/ 


/. 


/  '.' .   l/,r/ry.    •'  /  /vv// ,///;,;, //>/ 


in/ff 


. 

m  "i. 

! 

^^E>        , :  ill 

i  • 

|Km,  ;!:: 

fpMl 

*]l       "  i^ 

■it  ,.|j 

ii*iiri'iiin  Naurtiby  ,!.!  AudjDiin  FN 


rrmtfd  k  Na^el  irWfin^srtnerN  Y 


COMMON  FLYING-SQIIIUREL 


COLOUR. 


21' 


A  line  of  black  around  the  orbits  of  the  eye;  whiskers,  nearly  all 
black,  a  few  are  whitish  toward  their  extremities.  Ears,  light-brown. 
In  most  specimens  there  is  a  light-coloured  spot  above  the  eyes: 
sides  of  the  face  and  neck,  light  cream-colour;  fur  on  the  back,  dark 
slate-colour,  tipped  with  yellowish-brown.  On  the  upper  side  of  the  fly 
ing  membrane  the  colour  gradually  becomes  browner  till  it  reaches  the 
lower  edge,  where  it  is  of  a  light  cream-colour ;  throat,  neck,  inner  sur- 
face of  legs,  and  all  beneath,  white ;  with  occasionally  a  tint  of  cream- 
colour.  The  upper  surface  of  the  tail  is  of  the  colour  of  the  back;  tail 
beneath,  light  fawn. 


DIMENSIONS. 


5} 

inches. 

1 

do.  . 

4 

do. 

5 

do 

f 

inches. 

If 

do. 

5{ 

do. 

3? 

do. 

^ 

do. 

n 

do. 

n 

do. 

7 

do. 

Length  of  head  and  body     -        -        -        -        . 
head  ...... 

**  tail  (ver'  brce)  .... 

**  tail,  including  fur         .        -        .        . 

Of  a  specimen  from  which  one  of  our  figuies  was  drawn. 
From  nose  to  eye         ...... 

"        "         opening  of  ear 

"        "         root  ol'  tail 

Tail  (vertebrae)  

Tail,  to  end  of  hair 

Breadth  of  tail,  hair  extended       -         .         .        . 
Spread  of  fore-legs  to  extremity  of  claws     - 
Spread  of  hind-legs 

HABITS. 

It  has  sometimes  been  questioned  whether  the  investigation  of  objects 
>f  natural  history  was  calculated  to  improve  the  moral  nature  of  man, 
and  whether  by  an  examination  into  the  peculiar  habits  of  the  inferior 
animals  he  would  derive  information  adapted  to  the  wants  of  an  immortal 
being,  leading  him  from  the  contemplation  of  nature  up  to  nature's  God. 

Leaving  others  to  their  own  judgment  on  this  subject,  we  can  say  for 
f  ursclves  that  on  many  occasions  when  studying  the  varied  characters  of 
the  inferior  creatures,  we  have  felt  that  we  were  reading  lessons  taught 
us  by  nature,  that  were  calculated  to  make  us  wiser  and  better.  Often, 
whilst  straying  in  the  fields  and  woods  with  a  book  under  our  arm,  have 
we  been  tempted  to  leave  Homer  or  Arist'>ti,e  unopened,  and  attend  to 
2S 


^      I 

I 


J 


m 


218 


COMMON  FLYINCx-SQUIRREL. 


the  teachings  of  the  quadrupeds  and  birds  that  people  the  solitudes  of 
the  wilderness.  Even  the  gentle  little  Flying-Squirrel  has  more  than 
once  diverted  our  attention  I'rom  the  pages  of  Griesbach  and  Michaelis, 
and  taught  us  lessons  of  contentment,  of  innocence,  and  of  parental  and 
filial  affection,  more  impressive  than  the  theological  disquisitions  of  learned 
commentators. 

We  recollect  a  locality  not  many  miles  from  Philadelphia,  whenj,  in 
order  lo  study  the  habits  of  this  interesting  species,  we  occasionally 
strayed  into  a  meadow  containing  byre  and  there  immense  oali  and  beech 
trees.  One  afternoon  we  took  our  seat  on  a  log  in  the  vicinity  to  watch 
their  lively  motions.  It  was  during  the  calm  warm  weather  peculiar  to 
the  beginning  of  autumn.  During  the  half  hour  belbre  sunset  nature 
seemed  (o  be  in  a  state  of  silence  and  repose.  The  birds  had  retired  to 
the  shell  or  of  the  forest.  The  night-hawk  had  already  commenced  his 
low  evening  flight,  and  here  and  there  the  common  red  bat  was  on  the 
win^;  still  for  some  time  not  a  Flying-Squirrel  made  its  appearance 
Suddenly,  liowever,  one  emerged  from  its  hole  and  ran  up  to  the  top  of 
a  tree  ;  another  soon  followed,  and,  ere  long  dozens  came  forth,  and  com- 
menced their  graceful  flights  from  some  upper  branch  to  a  lower  bough. 
At  times  one  would  he  seen  darting  from  the  toj)most  branches  of  a  tall 
oak,  find  with  wide-extended  membranes  and  outspread  tail  gliding 
diagonally  througli  the  air,  till  it  reached  the  foot  of  a  tree  about  fifty 
yards  off,  when  at  the  moment  we  expected  to  see  it  strike  the  earth,  it 
suddenly  turned  upwards  and  alighted  on  the  body  of  the  tree.  It  would 
then  run  to  the  top  and  once  more  precipitate  itself  from  the  upper 
branches,  and  sail  back  again  to  the  tree  it  had  just  left.  Crowds  of 
these  little  creatures  joined  in  these  sportive  gambols ;  there  could  not 
have  been  less  than  two  hundred.  Scores  of  them  would  leave  each 
tree  at  the  same  moment,  nnd  cro.«s  each  other,  gliding  like  spirits 
through  the  air,  seeming  to  have  no  other  object  in  view  than  to  indulge 
a  playful  propensity.  We  watched  and  mused  till  the  last  shadows  of 
day  had  disappeared,  and  darkness  admonished  us  to  leave  the  little 
triflers  to  their  nocturnal  enjoyments. 

During  the  day  this  species  avoids  the  light,  its  large  ey?s  like  those  of 
the  owl  cannot  encounter  the  glare  of  the  sun;  hence  it  aj.pears  to  be  a 
dull  and  uninteresting  pet,  crawling  into  your  sleeve  or  poek(>t,  and  seek- 
ing any  dark  place  of  concealment.  But  twilight  nnd  darkness  are  its 
season  for  activity  and  pleasure.  At  such  times,  in  walking  through  the 
woods  you  hear  a  rattling  among  the  leaves  and  branches,  and  the  fall- 
ing acorns,  chesnuls,  and  beech-nuts,  give  evidence  that  this  little  area 
ture  is  supplying  itself  with  its  Ibod  abo\=e  you. 


I 


COMMON  FLYING-SQUIRREL. 


219 


This  is  a  harmless  and  verj-  gentle  species,  becoming  toh-rably  tame 
i'l  a  lew  hours.     After  a  few  days  it  will  take  up  its  residence  in  some 
crevice  in  the  chamber,  or  under  the  eaves  of  the  house,  and  it  or  its 
progeny  may  be  seen  in  the  vicinity  years  afterwards.     On  one  occasion 
we  took  from  a  hollow  tree  four  young  with  their  dam ;  she  seemed  quite 
willing  to  remain  with  them,  and  was  conveyed  home  in  the  crown  of  a 
hat.     We  had  no  cage  immediately  at  hand,  and  placed  them  in  a  drawer 
in  our  library,  leaving  a  narrow  space  open  to  enable  them  to  breathe ; 
next  morning  we  ascertained  that  the  parent  had  escaped  through  the 
crevice,  and  as  the  window  was  open,  we  presumed  that  she  had^ban- 
doned  her  young  rather  than  be  subject  to  confinement  in  such  a  narrow 
and  uncomfortable  prison.     We  made  efforts  for  several  days  to  preserve 
the   young   alive  by  feeding   them  on  milk;   they   appeared  indifferent 
about  eating,  and  yet  seemed  to  thrive  and  were  in  good  order.     A  few 
evenings  afterwards  we  were  surprised  and  delighted  to  see  the  mother 
glide  through  the  M-indow  and  enter  the  still  open  drawer ;  in  a  moment 
she  was  nestled  with  her  young.     She  had  not  forsaken  them,  but  visited 
them   nightly   and   preserved   them   alive  by  her   attentions.     We  now 
placed  the  young  in  a  box  near  the  window,  which  was  left  partly  open. 
In  a  short  time  she  had  gained  more  confidence  and  remained  with  them 
during  the  whole  day.     They  became  very  gentle,  a-nd  they  and  their  de- 
scendants continued  to  reside  on  the  premises  for  several  years. 

During  the  first  winter  they  were  confined  to  the  room,  boxes  were 
placed  in  different  parts  of  it  containing  Indian  meal,  acorns,  nuts,  &c. 
As  soon  as  it  was  dark  they  were  in  the  habit  of  hurrying  from  one  part 
of  the  room  to  the  other,  and  continued  to  be  full  of  activity  during  the 
whole  night.  We  had  in  the  room  a  wheel  that  had  formerly  been  at- 
tached  to  the  cage  of  a  Norlhcrn  gray  squirrel.  To  this  they  found  an 
entrance,  and  tli.y  olien  continued  during  half  the  night  turning  the 
wheel ;  at  times  we  saw  the  whole  group  in  it  at  once.  This  squirrel,  we 
may  conclude,  resorts  to  the  wheel  not  from  compulsion  but  for  pleasure. 
In  an  interesting  communication  which  we  have  rc'ceived  from  Gideon 
B.  Smith,  Esa.,  M.  D.,  of  Baltimore,  he  has  given  us  the  following  details 
of  the  singular  habits  of  this  species  : — 

"After  having  arrived  at  the  top  of  a  tree  from  which  they  intend  to 
make  their  airy  leap,  they  spring  or  Jump,  stretch  their  fore-legs  forward 
and  outward  and  (heir  hind-legs  backward  and  outward,  by  this  means 
expanding  the  loose  skin  with  which  they  are  clothed,  and  which  forms  a 
f^ort  of  gliding  elevator.  In  this  way  they  pass  from  tree  to  tree,  or  to 
iuiy  other  objCct,  not  by  flying  as  their  name  imports,  but  by  descending 
from  a  high  position  by  a  gliding  course ;  as  they  reach  the  vicinity  of 


f 
fi, 


«!. 


220 


m 


COMMON  FLYING-SQUIRREL 


tnc  earth,  their  impetus,  aided  by  their  expanded  skin,  enables  them  tu 
ascend  in  a  curved  line  and  alight  upon  the  tree  aimed  at,  about  one-third 
n«  high  from  the  ground  as  they  were  on  the  tree  they  left.  On  reaching 
a  tree  in  this  m-«nner  they  run  iiriskly  up  its  trunk  as  high  as  they  wish 
to  give  them  a  start  for  another;  in  this  way  they  will  travel  in  a  few 
minutes,  from  tree  to  tree  or  olyect  to  object,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  or  more. 
There  is  nothing  resembling  flying  in  their  movements. 

"They  are  gregarious,   living   together  in  considerable   communities, 
and  do  not  object  to  the  company  of  other  and  even  quite  different  ani- 
mals.    For  example,  I  once  assisted  in  taking  down  an  old  martin-box, 
wJiich  had  been  for  a  great  number  of  years  on  the  top  of  a  venerable' 
locust  tree  near  my  house,  and  which  had  some  eight  or  ten  apartments. 
As  the  box  fell  to  the  ground  we  were  surprised  to  see  great  numbers  of 
Flying-Squirrels,  screech-owls,  and  leather-winged  bats  running  from  it. 
We  caught  several  of  each,  and  one  of  the  Flying-Squirrels  wa^s  kept  as 
a  pet  in  a  cage  for  six  months.     The  various  apartments  of  the  box  were 
stored  with  hickory-nuts,  chesnuts,  acorns,  corn,  &c.,   intended  ibr  the 
vyinter  supply  of  food.     There  must  have  been  as  many  as  twenty  Flying. 
Squirrels  in  the  box,  as  many  bats,  and  we  know  there  were  six  screech 
owls.     The  crevices  of  the  house  were  alway.s  inhabited  by  the  Squirrels. 
The  docility  of  the  one  we  kept  as  a  pet  was  remarkable ;  although  he 
was  never  lively  and  playful  in  the  day-time,  he  would  permit  himself  to 
be  handled  and  spread  out  at  the  pleasure  of  any  one.     We  frequently 
took  him  from  the  cage,  laid  him  on  the  table  or  on  one  hand,  and  ex- 
posed  the  extension  of  his  skin,  smoothed  his  fur,  put  him  in  our  pocket 
or  bosom,  &c.,  he  pretending  all  (he  time  to  be  asleep. 

"  It  was  a  common  occurrence  tliat  these  Squirrels  flew  into  the  house 
on  a  summer's  evening  when  the  windows  were  open,  and  at  such  times 
we  caught  them.  Tliey  were  always  perfectly  harmless.  Although  I 
frequenlly  seized  them  in  my  hand  I  was  never  bitten.  We  caught  so 
many  of  them  one  season  that  the  young  girls  bordered  their  winter  "capes 
with  their  tails,  which  are  very  pretty.  It  was  a  curious  circumstance 
that  the  Flying-Squirrels  never  descended  to  the  lower  parts  of  the  house, 
and  we  n.ner  knew  of  any  rats  in  the  upjx-r  i-ooms.  Whether  the  Squir- 
rels or  the  rats  were  the  rej)ulsive  agents  I  ,1„  not  know  ;  certain  it  is 
they  never  inhabited  the  lower  locaticn  in  common." 

The  Flying-Squirrel,  as  is  shown  above,  is  gregarious.  In  Carolina, 
we  have  generally  found  six  or  seven  in  one  nest ;  it  is  diflicult,  however.' 
to  count  them,  as  on  cutti!--  down  a  tree  which  they  inhabit,  several  es-' 
cape  without  being  noticed.  In  -^ew  .lersey,  Pennsylvania,  and  Virginia, 
they  appear  to  be  more  numerous,  and  the  families  are  larger. 


COMMON  FLYING-SQUIRREL 


221 


The  Flyincr-SquiriTls  never  build  their  nest  of  leaves  oi;  the  Irees  dur- 
ing summer  like  the  true  scjuirrels,  but  oontine  themselves  to  a  hollow, 
or  some  natura.  cavity  in  tiic  In-anches  or  trunk.  We  liave  very  fre' 
quently  found  them  inhabiting  the  eaves  and  roofs  of  houses,  and  we  dis- 
covered a  eonsiderable  number  of  them  in  the  erevices  of  a  rock  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  Red  Sulphur  Springs  in  Virginia. 

Although  the  diet  of  this  species  generally  consists  of  nuts  and  seeds 
of  various  kinds,  together  with  the  buds  of  trees  in  winter,  yet  we  have 
known  many  instances  in  which  it  manifested  a  strong  desire  for  animal 
food.  On  several  occasions  we  found  it  caught  in  box-traps  set  for  the 
ermine,  which  had  been  baited  only  with  meat.  The  bait,  ^usually  a 
blue  jay,)  was  frequently  wholly  consumed  by  the  little  prisoner.  In  a 
room  in  which  several  Flying-Sciuirrels  had  been  suffered  to  go  at  large 
we  one  evening  left  a  pine  grosb,>ak,  {Con/t/ms  cuvlentor)  a  rare  speci- 
men, which  we  intended  to  pre,  ■  .-ye  on  the  following  morning.  On 
searching  for  it  however  next  day  it  was  missing ;  we  discovered  "its  feet 
and  feathers  at  last  in  the  box  of  the  Flying-Squirrels,  they  having  con- 
sumed the  v/hole  body. 

This  species  has  from  three  to  six  young  at  a  time.  We  have  been 
assured  l)y  several  persons  that  they  produce  young  but  once  a  year  in 
the  Northern  and  .Aliddle  States.  In  Carolina,  however,  we  think  they 
have  two  litt.>rs  in  a  season,  as  we  hav.^.  on  several  occasions  seen  young 
in  May  and  in  Sept(>mber. 

A  writer  in  Loidun's  Magazine,  under  the  signature  ol'  D.  W.  C,  says 
at  p.  571,  vol.  ix.,  in  speaking  of  the  habits  of  this  animal  in  confinement 
in  England,  "I  found  that  as  soon  as  the  female  was  pregnant  she  would 
not  allow  any  one  to  approach  her;  and  as  the  time  went  on,  she  became 
more  savage  and  more  tenacious  of  the  part  of  the  cage  which  she  had 
lixed  upon  tor  her  nest,  which  she  made  of  leaves  put  in  for  that  purpose. 
Two  of  the  females   produced  young  last  spring.     I  think  the  period  ot 
their  g..station  is  a  month  ;  but  of  this  fact  I  am  not  certain.     The  young 
are  blind  tor  three  W(M>ks  after  their  birth,  and  do  not  reach  pviberty  till 
the  next  spring.     I  n<.ver  obtained  more  than  two  young  ones  at  a  tinif, 
nor  more  than  one  kindle  in  a  yar  from  the  same'li-male.     The  young 
were  generally  born  in  March  or  April.     The  teats  of  tin-  female  appear 
through  the  fur  some  time  belbre  she  brings  forth.     ( )ne  of  them  produced 
two  young  ones   without    making  a  distinct   nest,   or  separating  hersell 
from  the   ics,,  bui    the  consequence   was  that  they  disappeared  on  the 
third  day." 

"If  on  any  occasion  we  disturbed  the  young  in  their  nest,  the  mother 
removed  them  to  another  part  of  the  cage.     The  common  squirrel  ol  this 


222 


COMMON  FLYING-SQUIRREL. 


countrj',  (EnjiIaiK],)   is  said  to  remove  her  youi'-  in  the  same  manner,  if 
disturbed.     Finding  this  tlir  case,  we  often  took  the  y..nn-  Squirrels  . 
ol' their  nest  for  the  purpos..  of  watching  the  mother  carry  them  aw, 
which  she  did  by  doui)]in<r  the  little  one  up  under  her  body  with  hi 
fore-feet  and  mouth  till  she  could  take  hold  of  the  thigh  and  the  neck 
when  she  would  .jump  away  so  fast  that  it  was  difficult  to  see  v    ether 
she  was  carrying  her  young  one  or  not. 

"  As  the  young  increased  in  size  (which  they  soon  do)  and  in  weight, 
Mie  undertaking  became  more  diiricult.  We  then  saw  the  mother  turn 
the  young  one  on  its  back,  and  while  she  held  the  thigh  in  her  mouth, 
the  fore-legs  of  the  young  one  were  clasped  round  her  neck.  Sometimes' 
when  she  was  attempting  to  jump  upon  some  earthen  pots  which  I  had 
placed  in  the  cage,  she  was  overbalanced  and  fell  with  her  young  to  the 
ground,  she  would  drop  the  young  Squirrel,  so  as  to  prevent  her  own 
weight  from  crushing  it,  which  would  have  been  the  case  if  they  had 
fallen  together.  I  have  seen  the  young  ones  carried  in  this  manner  till 
they  were  half-grown." 


GEOGRAPHICAL    DISTRIBUTION. 

This  species  is  far  more  numerous  than  it  is  generally  supposed  to  be ; 
in  traps  set  for  the  smaller  rodentia  in  localities  where  we  had  never  se.>ii 
the  Flying  Squirrel,  we  IVrquently  caught  it.  We  have  met  with  it  in 
all  the  Atlantic  States,  and  obtained  specimens  in  Upper  Canada,  within 
a  mile  of  (he  falls  of  the  Niagara.  In  Lower  Canada  it  is  replaced  by  a 
larger  species,  (P.  sabrinus,)  and  we  have  reason  to  believe  that  it  does 
uot  exist  much  to  the  north  of  the  great  lakes;  we  obtained  specimens 
in  Florida  and  in  Texas,  and  have  seen  it  in  Missouri,  jind  according  to 
LiciiTENSTEiN  it  is  iouud  in  Mexico. 


GENERAL    REMARKS, 

T,his  species  was  among  the  earliest  of  all  our  American  quadrupeds 
noticed  by  travellers,  t^overnor  Smith  of  Virginia,  in  1021,  speaks  of  it 
as  "a  small  beaste  they  call  Assapaniek,  but  we  call  them  Flying  Squir- 
rels, because  spreading  their  legs,  and  so  stretching  the  largeness  of  their 
skins,  that  they  have  been  seen  to  fly  tliirt>  or  forty  yards."  Rav  and  Lin- 
N.i;u«  supposed  it  to  be  only  a  vari,>ty  of  the  Em-opean  P.  vohms,  from 
which  it  dilJers  very  widely.  Linn.k.s  arrange.!  it  under  Afu.^ ;  Gmelin, 
Pallas,  Civier,  Rav,  and  Bri.son,  und.r  ScurRu.-* ;  F.  Cuvif.r  and  Desma- 
RcsT  under  Sciuroptekus  ;  Fischer  under  Petauristls  ;  and  GEoyrHov  and 
more  recent  naturalists,  under  Pteromys. 


22ii 


.^OTOMA   DRUMMONDII.  -RxcHARDsov 

RocKv  Mountain  Neotoma. 
PLATE  XXIX.  Winter  and  Summer  colours 

N.  subtus  albida;  supra  hyeme  fla.o-fuscescens,  a^state  saturate  c.m. 
reus;  Cauda  crassa,  corpore  longiore  muse  decuman.,  robustior 

CHARACTERS. 

Colour,  above,  yellnnnsh-hrown  in  winter  and  dark-ash  in  summe>  ■ 
whmsh  beneath;  f.il,  bushy  and  longer  than  the  body,-  larger  than  the  A'..- 
way  rat, 

SYNONYMES. 

Rat  of  the  Rockv  Mountains,  Lewis  and  Clarke,  vol.  iii.,  „.  41 

Myoxus  Drummondii,  Rich.,  Zool.  Jour.,  1828   p  5   7 

Neotoma  Drummondii,  Rich.,  Fauna  Boreali  Americana,  p.  137,  pi.  1. 

description. 

This  species  bears  a  striking  resemblance  to  the  Florida  rat.  It  differs 
from  the  Norway  rat  by  its  longer  and  broader  ears,  and  by  its  bushy 
tail  and  light  active  form.  Fur,  long  and  loose,  bearing  a  considerable 
resemblance  to  that  of  the  gray  rabbit ;  nose,  rather  obtuse ;  the  nostrils 
haveav^ry  narrow  naked  margin;  the  tip  of  the  no.se  is  covered  with 
short  hairs ;  ears,  large,  oval,  and  rounded,  nearly  nak.d  wi.hin,  except 
near  the  margins,  where  they  are  slightly  clothed  with  short  hairs.  On 
he  outer  surface  there  are  o  few  more  hair.s,  but  not  enough  to  conceal 
the  skin  beneath;  eyes,  small,  much  concealed  by  the  fur;  whiskers 
-.ke  hogs  bristles,  very  strong,  the  longest  reaching  to  the  shoulders 
neck,  short,  and  fully  as  thick  as  (he  head. 

fore-legs,  short;  feet,  of  moderate  size,  with  four  toes;  elaws,  small. 
compress,Hl,  and  pointed.     The  third  ,oe  nearly  equals  the  middle  one 
uhich  IS  tne  longest,  the  first  is  a  little  shorter,  and  the  outer  one  not 
more  than  hall  the  length  of  the  other  two ;  there  is  also  the  rudiment  of 
-i  thumb,  which  IS  armed  with  a  minute  nail.     Th.  toes  of  the  hind-fe^t 


1;    I    f 


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224 


ROCKY  MOUNTAIN  NEOTOMA. 


are  longer  than  those  of  the  fore-lcct,  and  the  claws  less  hooked ;  the 
middle  toe  is  the  longest,  those  on  each  side  of  it  of  nearly  an  equal 
length :  the  outer  one  a  little  shorter,  and  the  inner  shortest  of  all.  The 
palms  on  the  fore  and  hind-feet  are  naked  ;  hut  tie  toes,  even  beyond  the 
nails,  are  covered  with  short,  adpresscd  hairs.  The  hairs  of  the  tail 
(whicl.  are  not  capable  of  a  distichous  arrangement)  are  short  near  the 
root,  and  gradually  lengthen  toward  the  end,  where  it  is  large  and  bushy, 
the  hairs  being  one  inch  in  length. 


COLOUR. 


fncisors,  yellow ;  on  the  whole  of  the  back,  the  head,  shoulders,  and 
outsides  of  the  thighs,  a  dusky  darkish-brown,  proceeding  from  a  mixture 
of  yellowish-brown  and  black  hairs.  From  the  roots  to  near  (he  tips,  the 
fur  is  of  a  dark  lead-colour,  tipped  with  light-brown  and  black.  The 
sides  of  the  face  and  tin  ventral  aspect,  are  bluish-gray.  Margin  of  the 
upper  lip,  chin,  feet,  and  under  surface,  dull  white ;  whiskers,  black  and 
wmte,  the  former  colour  predominating ;  tail,  grayish-brown  above,  dull 
yellowish-white  beneath.  ' 

The  above  is  the  colour  of  this  species  from  the  end  of  summer  through 
the  following  winter  to  the  time  of  shf-dding  the  hair  in  May ;  when  in 
its  new  coat  it  has  far  less  of  yellowish-brown,  and  puts  on  a  gray  ap- 
pearance on  the  back,  this  colour  gradually  assuming  more  of  the  yellow 
ish  hue  as  the  autumn  advances  and  the  fur  lengthens  and  thickens 
toward  winter. 


DIMENSIONS. 


From  point  of  nose  to  root  of  tail 
Tail  (vertebra;)     -         .         - 
Tail,  including  fur 
Height  of  ear,  posteriorly 
Length  of  whiskers 


9 

inches. 

7i 

do. 

H 

do. 

1 

do. 

do. 


HABITS. 


We  regr- 1  that  from  personal  observation,  we  have  no  information  to 
give  in  regard  to  the  habits  of  this  species,  having  never  seen  it  in  a  living 
state.  It  was,  however,  seen  by  Lewis  and  Clarke,  by  Drummond,  DouG- 
LA88,  NuTTALi,,  aud  TowNSENO.  Accordiug  to  the  accounts  given  by  thcsn 
travellers,  this  Neotoina  appears  to  have  nearly  the  same  general  habits 
as  the  smaller  species,  (K  Floruhma)  the  Florida  rat,  but  is  much  more 
destructive  than  the  latter.     It  has  a  strong  propensity  to  gnaw,  cut  to 


ROCKY  MOUNTAIN  NEOTOMA. 


225 


pieces,  and  carry  to  its  nest  every  thing  left  in  its  way.  The  trappers 
dread  its  attacks  on  their  furs  more  than  they  would  the  approach  of  a 
grizzly  bear.  These  rats  have  been  known  to  ^«iaw  through  whole  packs 
of  furs  in  a  single  night.  The  blankets  of  the  sleeping  travellers  are 
sometimes  cut  to  pieces  by  them,  and  they  carry  off  small  articles  from 
the  camp  of  the  hunter. 

"Mr.  Deummond,"  says  Richardson,  "placed  a  pair  of  stout  English 
shoes  on  the  shelf  of  a  rock,  and  as  he  thought,  in  perfect  security;  but 
on  his  return,  after  an  absence  of  a  few  days,  he  found  them  gnawed  into 
fragments  as  fine  as  saw-dust." 

Mr.  Douglass,  who  unfortunately  lost  his  life  in  ascending  Mouna 
Koa,  m  the  Sandwich  Islands,  by  falling  into  a  pit  for  catching  wild 
bulls,  where  he  was  gored  by  one  of  those  animals,  was  one  of  the  most 
mdetatigable  explorers  of  the  Western  portions  of  our  continent,  and 
kept  a  journal  of  his  travels  and  discoveries  in  natural  history.  It  was 
never  published,  but  a  few  copies  were  printed  some  time  after  his 
death,  by  his  friend  and  patrort.  Sir  William  Hooki^r,  who  presented  one 
of  them  to  us.     In  it  we  found  the  following  account  of  this  animal  :— 

"During  the  night  I  was  annoyed  by  the  visit  of  a  herd  of  rats,  which 
devoured  every  particle  of  seed  I  had  collected,  ate  clean  through  a  bun- 
dle of  dried  plants,  and  carried  off  my  soap,  brush,  and  razor.     As  one 
was  taking  away  my  inkstand,  which  I  had  L^en,  using  shortly  before 
a,,d  which  lay  close  to  my  pillow,  I  raised  my  gun,  .which,  with  my  faith' 
tui  dog,  always  is  placed  under  my  blanket  by  my,  side  with  the  muzzle 
to  my  feet,  ant!  hastily  gave  him  the  contents.     When  I  saw  how  large 
and  strong  a  creature  this  rat  was,  I  ceased  to  wonder  at  the  exploit,-, 
of  the  herd  in  depriving  me  of  my  property.     The  body  and  tail  together 
measured  a  foot    and  a  half;    the   hair  was  brown,    the  belly   white; 
it  had  enormous  ears  three  quarters  of  an  inch  long,  and  whiskers  three 
inches  in  length.     Unfortunately  the  specimen  was  spoiled  by  the  shot 
which  in  my  haste  to  secure  the  animal  and  recover  my  inkstand,  I  did 
not  take  time  to  change;  but  a  female  of  the  same  sort  venturing  to  ro- 
Uirn  some  hours  afteo,  I  handed  it  a  smaller  shot,  which  did  not  destroy 
the  skin.     It  was  in  all  respects  like  the  former,  except  being  a  little 
smaller."     This  identical  specimen  is  in  the  museum  of  the  Zoological 
Society  of  London,  where  v/e  examined  it. 

Mr.  TowNSEND  has  kindly  furnished  us  with  some  remarks  on  this  spe- 
cies, from  which  we  make  the  following  extracts :—"  I  never  saw  it  in 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  but  it  is  very  common  near  the  Columbia  river.  It 
is  found  in  the  storehouses  of  the  inhabitants,  where  it  supplies  the  place 
of  the  common  rat,  which  is  not  found  here.  R  is  a  remarkably  mis 
29 


226 


ROCKY  MOUNTAIN  NEOTOMA. 


chievous  animal,  destroying  every  tiling  which  comes  in  its  way — papers, 
books,  goods,  &c.  It  has  been  known  not  unfrequently  to  rat  entir  ly 
through  the  middle  of  a  bale  of  blankets,  rendering  the  whole  utterly 
useless ;  and  like  a  pet  crow  carries  away  every  thing  it  can  lay  its  hands 
on.  Even  candlesticks,  porter-bottles,  and  largo  iron  axes,  being  sonie- 
times  found  in  its  burrows." 

The  food  of  this  species  consists  of  seeds  and  herbage  of  various  kini's ; 
it  devours  also  the  small  twigs  and  leaves  of  pine  trees,  and  generally 
has  a  considerable  store  of  these  laid  up  in  the  vicinity  of  its  residence. 

It  is,  said  by  Drummond  to  make  its  nest  in  the  crevices  of  high  rocks. 
The  nest  is  large,  and  is  composed  of  sticks,  leaves,  and  grasses.  T'le 
abode  of  this  Rat  may  be  discovered  by  the  excrement  of  the  animal, 
which  has  the  colour  and  consistence  of  tar,  and  is  always  deposited  in 
the  vicmviy.  It  is  stated  by  those  who  have  had  the  opportunity  of  ob- 
serving, that  this  species  produces  from  three  to  five  young  at  a  time. 

GEOGRAPHICAL    DISTRIBUTION. 

We  were  informed  by  a  gentleman  who  was  formerly  engaged  as  a 
clerk  in  the  service  of  the  Missouri  fur  company,  that  this  Rat  exists  in  the 
valleys,  and  along  the  sides,  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  through  an  extent 
of  thirty  degrees  of  latitude.  Douglass  states  that  it  is  very  numerous 
near  the  Mackenzie  and  Peace  rivers,  latitude  69°.  Townsend  foui  J  it 
in  Oregon.  We  have  seen  a  specimen  that  was  said  to  have  been  ob- 
tained  in  the  Northern  mountains  of  Texas,  and  have  heard  of  its  exist- 
ence in  North  California. 


227 


GENUS  SIGMODON.— Say  ^nd  Obd. 


DENTAL    FORMULA. 


Incistve-^;     Camne  — ;  Molar  —  =  IG. 


As  the  present  genus  was  instituted  after  a  careful  examination  of  the 
teetli  ofSigmodon  hi.spidum,  by  Messrs.  Say  and  Ord,  who  first  described 
that  species,  we  think  it  due  to  those  distinguished  naturalists,  to  givB 
the  dental  formula  in  their  own  words,  more  especially  as  this  species 
was  named  on  the  plate  in  our  large  edition,  Arvicohi  hispidus,  we  having 
had  some  doubts  whether  it  was  sufBciently  distinct  from  the  arvicote 
m  its  generic  charact..rH,  to  warrant  us  in  adopting  the  gei.us  Sigmodon, 
to  which  we  afterwards  transfered  it. 

"Superior  Jaw.— Incisor,  slightly  rounded  on  its  anterior  face, truncated 
at  tip  ;  first  molar,  equal  to  the  second,  composed  of  four  very  profound, 
alternate  folds,  two  on  each  side,  extending  at  least  to  the  middle  of  the' 
tooth  ;  second  molar,  quadraf  ^  somewhat  wider,  and  a  little  shorter  than 
the  preceding,  with  three  profound  folds  extending  at  least  to  the  middle, 
two  of  which  are  on  the  exterior  side ;  posterior  molar,  a  little  narrower, 
but  not  shorter  than  the  preceding,  with  three  profound  folds,  two  of 
which  are  on  the  exterior  side,  extending  at  lea.st  to  the  middle;  the  inner 
fold,  opposite  to  the  anterior  exterior  fold,  and  not  extending  to  the  middle. 
"Inferior  Jaw.— Incisor  obliquely  truncate  at  tip,  the  acute  angle  being 
on  the  inner  side  ;  it  originates  in  the  ascending  branch  of  the  maxillary 
bone,  passing  beneath  the  molars ;  molars,  subcqual  in  breadth,  inclining 
slightly  forwards;   first  molar,  a  little  narrower  than  the  second,  with 
five  profound  alternate  folds,  three  of  which  are  on  the  inner  side ;  second 
molar,  subquadrate,  with  two  alternate  profound  folds,  the  inner  one  an- 
terior;  third  molar,  about  eq.al  in  length  and  breadth  to  the  anterior 
one,  but  rather  larger  and  somewhat  narrower  than  the  second,  with 
which  it  corresponds  in  the  disposition  of  its  folds,  excepting  that  they 
ure  less  compressed." 

OBSERVA'l  !0\S. 

"The  enamel  of  the  molars  is  thick,  but  on  the  anterior  face  of  each  fold 
fxcrpting  the  first  5«  obsolete.     From  the  arrangement  of  the  folds,  as 


il 


i^ 


!■} 


228 


COTTON  RAT. 


above  descrihed,  it  is  obvious  that  the  configuration  of  the  triturating  sur- 
face, (occasioned  by  the  Colds  of  cnnmcl  dippinj;;  deeply  into  the  body  of  the 
tooth,  in  tlic  second  and  tiiird  molar  of  the  lower  jaw,)  accuirafciy  repre- 
sents the  letter  S,  which  is  reversed  on  ihc  rifjht  side ;  tliat  bearing  con- 
siderable resemblance  to  the  posterior  tooth  of  the  genus  Spai.ax,  and  to 
which  also  it  lias  a  slight  aflinity  in  the  truncature  of  the  inferior  in- 
cisors, iriie  conliguralion  ol"  the  iatermediale  molar  of  the  upper  jaw 
may  be  compared  to  iho  form  of  the  Greek  letter  2,  whence  our  generic 
name." 

"  In  respect  to  its  generic  afiinities,  it  is  very  obvious  that  its  system  of 
dentition  indicates  a  proxiniKy  to  Ahvicoi.a;  but  the  dillerent  arrangement 
of  the  folds,  and  the  eircunjstance  of  the  molars  being  divided  into  radi- 
cles, certainly  (!xclude  it  from  that  genus.  WitJi  resju'ct  to  the  radicles, 
it  resembles  the  genus  Fuikr  ;  but  is  allied  to  this  genus  in  no  other  re- 
spect." 

"  We  may  further  remark,  that  tlio  teeth  of  our  specimen  are  consider- 
ably worn,  a  condilion  that  materially  affects  the  depths  of  (he,  folds." 

Although  the  animal  described  ,below  is  the  only  species  of  Siomodon 
at  present  admitted  into  this  gemis,  there  are  several  well  known,  and 
one  undescribed,  .species,  that  we  apprehend  will  yet  be  arranged  ua 
der  it. 


SIGMODON    HISPIDUM.— Say  and  Ord. 


Cotton  -  Rat. 
PLATE  XXX. 

S.  flavo  fuscescens,  infra  cinereum ;  cauda  corpore  breviore ;  auribus 
amplis  rotundatisque ;  Tamia;  Lysteri  magnitudine. 


CHARACTERS. 


Size  of  the  chipping  squirrel,  (T.  Lysteri;)  tail,  shorter  than  the  body 
ears,  broad  and  rounded;  above,  dark  yellowish-brown ;  cinereous  beneath. 


SVNONYMES. 


Marsh-Rat,  Lawson's  Carolina,  1709,  p.  125. 

Thk  Wood-Rat,  Bartram's  Travels  in  East  Florida,  l"?!,  p.  124. 


COTTON-RAT. 


229 


SioMODON  IIispiDUM,  Say  and  Ord.  Joum.  Ac.  Nat.  Sc,  Phila.,  vol.  iv.,pt.  2,  p.  354. 

read  March  22d,  182,j. 
Auvicoi-A  IIoiiTBNHis,  Hurliin,  Fauna,  1825,  p.  138. 

"        Hisi>iuuH,  GoDMAN,  vol.  ii.,  p.  08,  182(j. 

"        HoiiTENsis,  Griffith,  Cuvier,  vol.  v.,  sp.  547. 

UESCKIPTIO.V. 

In  its  general  external  appearance  thi.s  .species  approaches  tiearer  to 
the  genus  Arvicola  than  to  Mus.  It  has  the  thic'k  .short  (brm  of  the  former, 
and  th(^  broad  ajid  rather  long  ears  of  many  species  of  the  latter.  The 
fur  is  long  and  coarse. 

Head,  of  moderate  size,  rather  long ;  nose,  pointed ;  whiskers,  few, 
weak,  and  shorter  than  the  head ;  eyes,  of  moderate  size  and  rather  pro- 
minent;  ears,  broad,  rounded,  and  slightly  covered  with  hair. 

Fore-legs,  rather  short  and  slender ;  four  toes  on  each  foot,  the  middle 
ones  nearly  of  equal  length,  the  inner  one  a  siz<!  shorter,  and  the  outer 
shortest ;  there  is  also  a  rudimentary  thumb,  protected  by  a  strong  conical 
nail.  Hind-legs,  .stouter;  live  toes  on  each  foot,  much  longer  than  those 
on  the  fore-feet ;  middle  claw  longest,  the  two  on  each  side  nearly  equal, 
the  outer,  not  one-third  the  length  of  the  others,  and  the  inner,  which 
rises  far  back,  shortest  of  all ;  nails,  rather  small,  sharp,  and  slightly 
arched;  toes,  covered  with  hair  extending  to  the  roots  of  the  nails;  tail, 
clothed  with  short  hairs, 

COLOUR. 

Hairs,  on  the  whole  upper  surface  of  the  body  of  a  dark  plumbeous 
colour  from  the  roots  to  near  the  extremities,  edged  with  brown,  and  ir- 
regularly tipped  with  black;  giving  it  a  rusty  reddish-brown  appear- 
ance. The  ears,  head  and  tail,  are  of  the  colour  of  the  back ;  chin, 
throat,  and  under  surface  of  body,  dull-white,  the  hairs  being  ashy-gray 
at  the  roots,  and  whitish  at  the  points. 

DIMENSIONS. 

From  pomt  of  nose  to  root  of  tail 

Tail 

Length  of  ear 

Brcadtii  of  ear 

From  eye  to  point  of  nose f    do. 

From  point  of  nose  to  ear li    do. 

From  heel  to  point  of  longest  nail         -        -        .        1^    do. 


G 

inch 

4 

do. 

i 

do. 

i 

do. 

2:10 


COTTDN-UAI 


iiAiirt'H. 


ll  1  t 


This  is  ihc  iiinsl  i-nininon  wimmI-imI  cxiMiny  in  |||(>  Soullicrii  SlutcN,  bt'itiK 
.'Veil  nmii'  iil>iiti(hiiil  lliiiii  ;iiiy  ol'  llir  Npccics  of  mcmlow-iiiici-  in  llw 
N«-rllicrn  nnd  I'liislcrii  Sliitcs.  ||  is  liowcvcr  i\  n'sidcn!  nillnT  ^\^'  hri\i(v,s, 
clilclics.  iind  ilcsiTliMi  did  licltls.  (Iiiiii  ol' ^iirdcns  or  cidliviifcd  jjnmiids;  it 
ocoiisidns  very  lilllc  injiwy  to  (lie  |iliiiilcr.  AIiIioiikIi  ils  |»(iIIin  hit  rvcry- 
wlwTo  M-cii  lliroii^^li  llic  (iclds.  i|  docs  not  seem  lo  dcslroy  iiii;ny  pliiiils  or 
V('Ko(nld(>s.  It  IciMis  on  llic  scimIs  olCoiirsc  ^finsscs  iind  Icjfiiiiiinoiis  piniils, 
iiiui  devours  M  considcr.il)!!'  (iiianlily  of  niiiMiiil  food.  In  il:'  liiil)ils  il  is 
KiT^'arioiis.  We  linvc  seen  spots  oi"  linlf  nil  ncrc  covered  over  witli  tnll 
wei'ds.  (Soliilono  nnd  Eiiiuttoriiim.)  wliicli  \ver(>  trnversed  in  every  direc- 
tion liy  the  Cottoii-K.il.  .ind  wiii.li  iiiiisl  liave  coiilaiiied  several  hundred 
individuals. 

Allhiiiiuh  tliis  species  «loes  not  reject  p:raiiis  and  jjrasses.  it  jrives  tlio 
prelerence  in  all  cases  to  animal  lood,  and  we  have  iie\er  foiind  any 
species  of  rat  more  decidedly  carnivorous.  Kohins,  partridges,  or  other 
birds  that  are  wounded  and  drop  amoiiu;  the  loiifj;  >j;rass  or  we<'(ls  in  the 
neiii:hl)ourhood  of  their  burrows  are  speedily  devoured  hy  them.  'I'hey 
may  sometimes  W  seen  ruimint;-  ahoiit  the  ditches  with  cravlisli  [Astiicus 
liartoni)  in  their  moiilhs,  and  have  been  i.nowii  to  subsist  on  Crustacea, 
especially  llie  little  erabs  oallci!  tiddlers.  ((,'<l,isiiiiii.s  roniiis.) 

We  ha\e  iVc.piei.lly  kept  (%)lton-Uats  in  ca;,'es ;  they  killed  and  (h-- 
voiired  (>very  otlier  species  placed  wiili  iiiein,  and  aOerwards  attacked 
each  other;  the  weakest,  were  killed  and  eaten  by  the  slroiif^esl.  'I'hey 
li^lit  liercely,  and  one  of  them  will  overpower  a  i'Morida  rat  twice  its 
own  si/e. 

The  old  males  when  in  conlinemeiit  almost  invarialily  destroy  llu-ir 
youMir. 

This  spiM'ics  (l(>!i<<hls  in  siickin-;-  eyns.  and  we  have  known  a.  Virjfinian 
partridge  nest  as  compliMtdy  demolished  by  tliesi."  animals  as  if  it  h.-id 
boen  visited  by  l!ie  Norway  rat.  They  will  soinetimes  leav<'  Indian-corn 
nnd  other  grain  untouched,  when  placed  as  a  bait  for  them  in  (raps,  but 
tliey  are  easily  caught  when  the  traps  ai'<-  baited  with  meat  ol'  any  kind. 

Alllioujih  the  (\)tton-Uat  is  nocturnal  in  ils  habits,  it  may  fre(piently  Im! 
soon  by  day  ;  and  in  places  where  it  is  st-ldom  disturbed,  it  can  generally 
bo  found  at  all  hours. 

The  iralleries  ot"  this  species  often  run  twenty  or  thirty  yards  under 
ground,  but  not  far  beneath  the  surface;  ai.l  the  lidiics  thrown  up  as  the 
animals  excavate   their  gallorjcs,  can   often   be  traced   alontr  the  Mirface 


COTTON-UAl 


231 


of  Ihn  ciirlh  Cur  n  coriKidc-niblc  (liMlmirc,  likr  (Ikw  formed  by  th«  coiiimoii 
nIiitw-iiioIc. 

l''.Mcli  hiiiTdW  or  lioln  ootidiiiiM  nppnrcnlly  <iiily  oim-  fiirnily,  a  pnir  of  old 
ones  ".villi  llioir  yoiiiiy;;  l)iir  lli-ir  v.irif.iis  ^r,,ij,,,.i,,s  ,,r"lcii  inlcisci^l,  nicli 
ollifT.  iitid  iimiiy  iicsis  tiiiiy  lir  fiiiind  williin  llir  (Miinpiiss  of  n,  few  yards; 
lliry  lire  coaiposrd  of  willit-rrd  ^rMNscs,  nm  not.  vnry  InrK<%  mid  may 
nsiially  he  found  williiii  a  foot  of  tho  siirfaoo.  In  simiiiirr  tlu?  nrslH  ar« 
ollcii  SITU  in  a  cn-vily  of  llui  cartli.  on  tlu^  snrffHc  in  some  rnoadovv,  or 
niiion>j:  rank  weeds. 

'I'liis  is  a.  v«'ry  prolKir,  s|)c(;i(',s,  prodiieiiiK  yoiinj,'  early  in  spring,',  and 
llironn;li  all  the  sinniner  iimnllis,  till  lat.n  in  autumn.  We  liavn  on  several 
o<!eiision.s  known  tlieir  youn^  born  and  reared  in  e;it,'es.  They  produno 
from  four  to  ei^lit  at  a  liller.  T!ie  younjj;  are  of  a  bright  eliesnut-browri 
••oloiir,  and  at  llie  ap'  of  live  or  six  <lays  l)et,'in  to  leave  tlie  n;^st,  are  very 
active  and  sj)riKlilly,  and  attain  llarir  full  irrowlli  in  about  tlw.  months. 

'Hiis  s|H(eit!H  has  no  other  note  llian  a.  low  S(|ue.ik,  a  litth^  lionr.ser  than 
tliiit  of  tli(«  eomiiion  mou.se  ;  when  eaptured  it  is  far  more  .savfi^e,  than 
the  I'Morid.'i  nil.  <  »n  one  oeeiision,  while  seizin-,'  one-  of  lh<'m,  wc;  were 
bitten  eomplelely  thn;uKh  a  linger  eovere.d  by  a,  biutkskin  «love. 

The  Cotton-Hat  is  fond  of  burrovvinj,'  in  the  old  banks  of  abandoned  riee- 
fields.  In  such  silu.ilions  we  have,  during  fre.shel.s,  observed  that  it  eouid 
both  swim  find  dive  like  (he  water-rat  of  Hurope,  and  Wu.hon'h  meadow- 
inouse  of  (he  Middle  Slnles. 

This  spe-iies  supplies  a  considerable  nimil)er  of  animuls  and  birds 
with  food.  lM)Xes  and  wild-cits  especially,  destroy  tlioiisands;  vv(!  have 
observed  minks  eoursint!;  alon^  the  m;i.rshes  in  pursuit  of  them,  andiiavc 
fre.iuendy  seen  them  witli  one  of  these;  Uats  in  tlieir  mouth.  Marsh- 
hawks,  and  Severn  I  oilier  siiecies,  may  be  crmstantly  .seen  in  the  aiitmnu 
uiid  winter  months  sailinjr  ov,.r  the  fields,  lookini,'  out  (or  the  (;ottr)ii- 
Uat.  No  animal  in  the  Southern  States  b(!oomes  morr;  re;;ularly  the 
food  of  .several  sp.-cies  of  owls  thrui  this.  The  barnd  owl  {S,jrmu,n 
mhiilosinn)  is  seen  as  early  as  the  seltinfi:  of  the  sun,  (litlin^r  aiong  the 
edges  of  old  (hdd.s,  seeking  to  make  its  usual  evening  meal  on  it  or  carry 
itolfas  food  for  its  young.  \Ni.  were  invited  some  years  since  to  ex- 
amine the  nest  of  the  Am(Tican  barn-owl  {Siri,:  Amn-lnuin)  i„  the  lo((  „( 
a  sugar  refinery  in  Charleston.  There  wen;  several  young  of  differ.-nt 
sizes,  and  we  ascertained  that  tla;  only  food  on  which  they  wen;  fed  was 
this  llat,  to  obtain  which  the  old  birds  must  have  g(,ne  sevciral  mile.s. 

The  Cotton-Hat  has  obtained  its  name  from  its  supposed  habit  of  mak- 
ing its  nest  with  cotton,  which  it  is  said  to  collect  for  the  purpose  in  large 
quantities.     VV.;  have  ..ccasioniilly.  although   very  seldom,  seen  cotton  in 


11 


n 


232 


COTTON-RAT. 


if.M  iicNf.  hut  wo  hnvc  more  ricciuciifly  loimd  it,  coinpoHiMl  of  leaves 
und  widii'iTcl  >;niss«'M.  Indord,  tliix  Hprrir.s  do.-s  not  ji|)|)ciir  to  he  v«ry 
rhoicr  in  sclrcliiiy:  itmlniMlN  lor  hiiildiiij,-  its  iics!.  iisiiijr  indiNcnmi. 
Iiiitcly  niiy  siiiliihic  suhstancc  in  llic  vi<-inily.  \Vr  should  Ikivc  inrrrnrd 
B  inuro  rliiir.ictrnslir  Hii^lisli  ninn(>  t'..r  this  Unl.  hut  ns  it  ahcndy  hiis 
tliiv.'  tiniiws,  Cullon-Hat,  Hairy  Cauipauiiol,  and  Wood-Kat,  thr  hilt«T 
l)«'iM«:  in  Carohna  ai)|.nrd  holh  to  this  and  tho  Fhnida  rat,  w^^  hiivo  ron- 
«'hid<(l  not  to  add  anothw,  aIthow>,di  one  more  M|)|)ro|)riut«'  iniKht  he  linnid. 

aRonRAriucAi.  niHTRUiirnoN. 

We  have,  traced  llie  Cotton-Rat  ns  far  north  as  VirKinin,  and  have  seen 
it  in  North  Carolina,  near  VVrldon  and  Wilmington.  It  is  exceedinRly 
iihun.Iant  in  South  (\arolina,  C.eorKia.  and  I'Morida  ;  in  Alahania,  Missis- 
Kippi,  and  Louisiana,  traces  of  it  arc  every  where  seen.  We  have  re- 
ceived a  specimen  from  Caiveston,  Texas,  hut  have  had  no  oi)i)ortunify 
of  n.scertaiiiing  wiietiier  it  exists  farther  .south. 


nr.NF.RAI,'  RF.MARKfl. 

Ahhonph  this  species  was  noticed  hy  I.awson  a  century  and  a  Iialf  nRc, 
it  was  not  descrihed  until  a  com|)arativeiy  recent  ])criod.  Oho  ohtnined 
specimens  in  Florida  in  1H18,  jiiid  it  was  (,'«<ncrally  supposed  tliat  it  was 
not  foun<i  further  to  tlie  north.  In  the  spring  of  1H1.5,  thn-e  years  earlier 
than  Mr.  Orp,  we  ])rocured  a  dozen  specimens  in  Carolina,  which  we 
neiiloctcd  to  d(>scril)e.  S,\v  and  Ohu.  and  Hari.an.  descrihed  it  ahout 
tho  same  time,  (in  18:>.'-.,)  and  Comman  a  year  alh-rwards.  We  prefer 
adoi)linu:  the  name  given  to  it  hy  the  individu.-il  who  tirst  hrouglit  it  to 
the  notice  o(  naturalists.  In  its  teeth  it  diflcrs  in  a  lew  i)articulars  from 
Arvioola,  and  approaches  nearer  to  Mue. 


288 


CJKMfN  DYCJOTYMX— r.  Vwtm. 


•»BMTAI.    PORMIir.A. 


liu'isicf 


Can 


me 


I— 1 


Molar  — -  =  ,'J8. 

0— fl 


Tusks  or  minino  teoth,  projecting?  Hliphtly,  not  curved  r.r»r  tlin  points 
UH  in  tho  cotrnnon  hoj?,  (Sum,)  Hmiill,  trianKiiWir.  and  v.iry  -h.irp  ^  niolrtrw, 
with  tubercular  crowns;  tubercles,  rounded  and  irregularly  dispoHed.' 
Head,  broad  and  long;  snout,  straight,  terminated  by  a  cartilage ;  oairi, 
of  moderate  size  and  pointed  ;  eyes,  rather  small,  pupil  round.  Fore  Teit,' 
with  tour  toes,  the  two  niiddhi  t(.es  largest,  the  lateral  toes  quite  ahoi1,[ 
not,  roacrnng  to  the  ground ;  hind-feet,  with  three  toes,  the  external  little 
loo  of  the  hog  wanting  in  this  genus. 

The  metatarsal  and  metacarpal  bor.  T  the  two  largest  toes  on  all  the 
i\'vX  arc;  unit«!(l  together  like  those  of  the  ruminantia;  all  the  toes  are 
protected  by  h(M)fs.  A  gland  situated  on  the  baek  a  few  inches  from  the 
root  of  the  tail,  concealed  by  the  hair,  discharges  an  oily  ffotid  secretion. 
Body,  covered  with  strong,  stiff  bristles ;  tail,  a  mere  tubercle. 

Only  two  species  are  known,  both  inhabiting  the  warmer  climates  of 
America;  the  generic  name  Dycotyles,  is  derived  from  the  Greek  words, 
in,  iilis,)  double,  and  ».t,a,,  {kutiilf,)  a  ccwily ;  or  double  navol,  from  the 
opening  on  the  back. 


DYCOTYLES  TORQ  U  AT  US.-F.  Cu 


VIER. 


Collared  Peccary. 


PLATE  XXXI. 


n.  pilis  nigro  alboque  annulatis;  vitta  albida  ab  humoris  in  latere 
oolli  utroque  decurrenle, 
30 


'2M 


rOLLARKY   l'i:(  (;AKV. 


ClfARACTKRB. 


Ifair,  iinnulalril  with  hlork  (iiiil  white;  a  I iirht. coloured  hand  e.ilendiiifi 
from  the  sides  of  the  neck  ,irnund  the  shoulders,  and  meeting  on  the  hack. 

HYNONVMKH. 

« 
Tavtbtou,  D'Azfirii,  Quiid.  du  Piimi^miy,  vol.  i.,  |>.  ,i\. 
Tajacif,  Hullbri,  vol.  v.,  p.  'J72,  |tl.  i;i.). 
SiH  Tajach,  Linn.,  12th  od.  vol.  i.,  p.  lo.T. 

QUAVMTI.A  CoVMATl,,    (^1' AIIKUOTI,,   lleiM.,  McX.,  037. 

'J'ajacu,  lijiy,  (Juiid.,  p.  1)7. 

Sim  TAUAn"\,  Erxldu-n,  Syst.,  p.  185. 

8uB  TAOAhbA,  ScIiU'Iht,  SiiunrthiL'r-o,  t.  .125. 

Ai'jju  AiiiiRiOANn  a,  IJriss.,  Rt-irnc  An.,  p.  ,1. 

T.\.rA;.'C  Caaiooana  M Ancdit.  Flnus.,  p.  220. 

SliiXiCAN  Hoo,  IVnniinf,  Quiidr.,  p.  147. 

PoKCUs  Mc/scniFKiu!s,  Klein,  (iuadr.,  p.  2,5. 

Pkocaiu,  Shaw,  Gi-n.  Zool.,  vol.  ii,,  p.  4(t»,  224. 

DvnoTYLEB  ToKijUATt.-',  V.  CuviiT,  Diet.  (I(!s  Sciences  Niiturelles,  torn.  ix..  n.  sis 

"  "  Dfsni.,  Miimni.,  p.  ;in3. 

"  "  Oiv.,  Mv.^w  An.,  vol.  i,,  p.  2;i7. 

"  "  Pi-   Maxim.  Ucitr.,  vol.  ii ,  p.  :,r,T. 

"  "  Uiiiliin,  Kamm,  p.  220. 

"  "  Oiillith'.s  Animal  Kingdom,  sp.  740. 


i 


nE.scHirrioN. 

The  form  of  the  Collared  Peceary  bears  a  very  .striking  resemblance 
to  that  of  the  eominoii  (iomesticaicd  hoj? ;  it  is  however  smaller  iu  size, 
shorter,  and  more  ;;()mpact. 

Head,  rather  large;  snout,  long;  ears,  upright,  and  of  moderate  size; 
eyes,  rather  small.  The  cartilage  on  the  extremity  of  the  nose  is  naked, 
with  tlie  exception  of  it  few  bristles  nn  the  upper  !ip.  On  the  upper  sur- 
face of  the  nose,  near  the  cartilage,  there  is  a  spot  half  an  inch  in  length 
that  is  naked;  no.strils,  large;  the  upper  tusks,  in  the  living  animal,  pro- 
trude downward  below  the  lower  lips  half  an  inch  ;  the  ears  are  on  both 
surfaces  thinly  clothed  with  liair  that  is  softer  than  that  on  the  remainder 
of  the  body.  The  liairs  on  the  head  are  short.  From  the  hind  part  of 
the  head  along  the  dorsal  line  on  the  back,  there  are  long  strong  bristles, 
which  are  erected  when  the  animal  is  irritated.  Many  of  these  b.istles 
are  five  inches  in  I.MigtIi,  whilst  the  li.iirs  on  the  other  parts  of  the  body 
ure  generally  aboiil  three. 

On  liie  lowei   part  (;f  the  back,  a  flight    listaiice  from  the  rump,  there 


COLLARED  PKCCAHY. 


23.*> 


IS  a  n»ke(l  (-[landnlar  orilioe  Miirroiirided  by  a  fnw  bristles  ia  a  soinnwhnt 
radintrd  (lircotion.  Vvom  tliis  orKicn  then!  exudes  ii  stron«  scented  fluid. 
T'.iis  piir(  ol'llie  nnirfial  Ims  |„.cn  vulKdrly  supposed  to  bi;  its  navel. 

The  Ic^'s,  wliicli  strongly  resenibie  lliose  of  tjie  eotntnoii  lio>,',  lire  mtlier 
short.  Tliere  is  not  even  a  veslijr,,  oflhe  sniail  upper  external  hind-toe, 
vvliich  is  always  present  in  the  eonuuon  h<.>r.  There  i.s  a  rnfl'  under  the 
throat,  prolrudiu},'  about  thn-e  inehes  beyond  the  siirroundini,'  hairs.  The 
under  surface  of  the  body  is  rather  thinly  clothed  with  hair. 

In  plac(!  of  a  tail  there  is  a  tiiere  protulx-rancc  about  half  an  inch  in 
length,  vvhi(!h  is  rounded  and  like  a  knob. 


i 


COLOUR. 


Kyes,  dn',k-l)rown ;  nostrils,  flesh-oolour.  The  hairs  are  at  their  ro'-ts 
yollowish-white,  an  thrice  aiinu!  ♦ed  wi.'  dark-brown  and  yellowish- 
white,  and  are  tipped  with  black.  Head,  cheeks,  and  sides  of  the 
neck,  grayish;  legs,  dark-brown;  a  whitisti  ba-id  two  inches  broad  runs 
from  the  top  of  the  shoulder  on  each  side  towan'  the  lower  part  of  the 
iK^ck.  The  long  hairs  on  the  dorsal  line  are  so  broadly  tipped  with  bliick 
thft  the  aninia!  in  those  parts  appears  of  a  I)lack  colour;  along  the  (idea 
however  the  alternate!  annulations  are  so  conspicuous  that  it  I.as  a  deep 
gray  or  grizzled  appearance.  On  the  chest,  oute.-  surface  of  shoulders 
and  thighs,  it  is  of  a  darker  colour  than  on  the  sides.  Immediately  be- 
hind the  lightish  collar  on  the  shoulders  the  hairs  are  dark,  rendering  this 
collar  or  band  more  conspicuous. 

rhe  young  have  a  uniform  shade  of  red. 


DIMENSroNS. 


Living  female. 

Length  of  head  and  body 
head       - 
"  ear  ... 

llei;;:ht  to  shoulder 
Length  of  tail  .        «         . 

^dult  mal('  (recent)  obtained  in  Texas. 
From  nose  to  anterior  canthus 
From  nose  to  beginning  of  car 
licngth  of  ear  ... 

Ilreadth  of  ear        ... 
Length  from  snout  to  root  of  tail 


I'cei. 

UicIjcc 

3 

10 

0 

11 

0 

•6 

1 

8 

0 

01 

0 

H 

0 

n 

0 

3J 

0 

2} 

3 

4 

■Jif' 


ill 


236 


COLLA-RED  PECCARY 


feet 

Inches 

0 

oj 

0 

5f 

0 

n 

0 

ij 

2 

5 

0 

51 

0 

2? 

Tail 

From  knee  to  end  of  lioof  ... 
Ilind-knee  to  end  ofhoof  ... 
Spread  of  fore-feet  ---... 

Girth  across  the  centre  of  body        -         -         .        . 
.    Spread  of  mouth  when  fully  extended 
Breadth  between  the  eyes        ... 

HABITS. 

The  accounts  that  have  been  handed  down  to  us  of  the  habits  of  t.iis 
species  by  old  travellers,  Aldrovanda,  Fernandez,  Mons.  De  la  Borde, 
Marcgrave,  Acosta.  and  others,  who  furnished  the  information  from  which 
BirPFON,  Brisson,  Ray,  and  Linn^ous,  drew  up  their  descriptions  of  the 
Mexican  hog,  are  not  to  be  fully  relied  on,  inasmuch  as  their  descriptions 
referred  to  two  very  distinct  species,  the  white-lipped  peccary,  (Z).  labia- 
tus,)  and  the  subject  of  the  present  article.  Neither  Linn^us  nor  his  con- 
temporaries seem  to  have  been  aware  of  the  difference  which  exists  be- 
tween the  species ;  and  although  Bufkon  was  informed  by  M.  De  la  Bordb 
that  another  and  larger  species  existed  at  Cayenne,  he  does  not  appear  to 
have  drawn  any  line  of  distinction  between  it  and  our  animal. 

D'AzARA,  who  visited  South  America  in  1783,  (Essais  sur  I'lTistoirc 
Naturelle  des  Quadrupedes  de  la  Province  da  Paraguay,  Paris,  1801,) 
endeavoured  to  correct  the  errors  into  which  previous  writers  had  fallen, 
and  gave  an  account  of  the  present  species,  which,  although  .  ^mewhat 
unm-3thodical,  is  nevertheless  of  such  a  character  that  it  may  on  the 
whole  be  relied  on.  He  commences  his  article  on  the  "  taytetou,"  as  he 
designates  this  species,  by  first  giving  correct  measurements ;  afterwards 
lie  describes  tlio  colour  of  the  adult  and  young,  points  out  the  distinctive 
marks  which  separate  this  species  from  the  white-lipped  peccary,  which 
he  calls  « tngnicate,"  and  then  gives  a  tolerable  account  of  the  habits  ol 
the  species  now  under  consideration.  From  the  accounts  which  travellers 
have  given  us  of  the  Collared  Peccary  it  appears  that  this  species  is  gre- 
garious,  and  associates  for  mutual  protection  in  pretty  large  families;  it 
is  however  staled  by  D'A/.aua  that  the  white-lipped  j)eccary  is  more  dis- 
posed to  congregate  in  very  large  herds  than  our  animal. 

Although  they  are  usually  found  in  the  forests  and  prefer  low  and 
marshy  grounds,  like  common  hogs,  P,>ccaries  wander  wherever  they  can 
lind  an  abundance  of  food,  often  enter  ih,>  .Mu-losures  of  the  planters',  and 
commit  great  depredations  on  the  products  ol"  their  fields. 

When  attacked  liy  the  jaguar,  the  puma,  the  wolf,  the  dog,  or  the  hun- 


COLLARED  PECCARY. 


237 


ter,  they  form  themselves  into  a  circle,  surrounding  and  protecting  theil 
young,  repelling  their  opponents  with  their  sharp  teeth,  and  in  this  man- 
ner sometimes  routing  the  larger  predatory  animals,  or  severely  wound- 
ing the  dogs  and  the  hunters. 

When  angry,  they  gnash  their  teeth,  raise  their  bristles,  fxvhich  at  such 
time  resemble  the  quills  of  the  porcupine,)  and  their  s'lnrp,  .shrill  grunt 
can  be  heard  at  a  great  distance. 

This  species  feeds  on  fruits,  seeds,  and  roots ;  and  lik.'  ib,  .iM.-nosticaled 
hog  is  constantly  rooting  in  the  earth  in  quest  of  wurr.t;,,  insocts.  reptiles, 
or  bulbous  roots.  It  is  said  also  to  devour  the  eggs  of  alligators.  tiu-Hes, 
and  birds;  and  to  be  destructive  to  lizards,  toads,  and  snakes,  [n  fact, 
like  the  common  hog  it  is  omnivorous,  feeds  upon  every  thin;^'  that 
comes  in  its  way,  and  is  not  particularly  choice  in  the  selection  '>t  its 
food. 

Mons.  De  i,a  Borde  (D'Azara,  Quad,  du  Paraguay,  vol.  i.,  p.  31,)  relates 
that  "they  are  easily  shot;  for  instead  of  flying,  they  assemble  together, 
and  often  give  the  hunters  an  opportunity  of  charging  and  discharging 
several  times."  fie  mentions  "tliat  he  was  one  diiy  employed,  ahjng 
with  several  others,  in  hunting  these  animals,  accompanied  by  a  single 
dog,  which  as  soon  as  they  appeared,  took  refuge  between  his  master's 
legs.  For  greater  safety  he  with  the  other  hunters  stood  on  a  rock.  They 
were  nevertheless  surrounded  by  tlw  herd  of  hogs.  A  constant  fire  was 
kept  up,  but  the  creatures  did  not  retire  till  a  great  nun>})er  of  them  were 
slain."  "These  animals,  however,"  he  remarks,  "fly  after  they  have 
been  several  times  hunted.  The  young,  when  taken  in  t)ie  chase,  are 
easily  tamed,  but  they  will  not  associate  or  mix  with  the  domestic  species. 
\u  their  natural  state  of  liberty  they  frequent  the  marshes,  and  swim 
across  large  rivers.  Their  flesh,"  says  he,  "has  an  excellent  taste,  bnt 
is  not  so  tender  as  thr  of  the  domestic  hog ;  it  resembles  the  flesh  of  the 
hare,  and  has  neither  lard  nor  grease." 

The  same  author  also  states  that  "  v.-hen  pursued  they  take  refuge  in 
hollow  trees,  or  in  holes  in  the  earth  dug  by  the  aniiadilloes.  These 
holes  they  enter  backwards  and  remain  in  as  long  as  tli(>y  can.  Ikit  when 
highly  irritated  they  instantly  issue  out  in  a  body.  In  onlrr  to  seize  them 
as  they  come  out,  the  hole  is  enclosed  with  branelies  of  trees ;  one  of  the 
hunters,  armed  with  a  pitchfork,  stands  abov.-  the  hoi,'  to  lix  them  by  the 
neck,  while  another  forces  them  out,  and  kills  them  with  a  sal)re." 

"  Where  there  is  but  one  in  a  hole.  an<l  the  hunter  has  not  leisure  to 
seize  it,  he  shuts  up  the  t,  :rance,  and  is  sure  of  his  game  next  day." 

All  authors  agree  in  stating  that  the  dorsal  glands  of  either  the  male 
ar  female  should  be  cut  off  instantly  ailer  the  uniiiial  is  killed,  for  their 


!  'i 


238 


t'()LI-Am;i)   I'lX'HAKY 


rclcutioii  lor  only  a  Biii^'lo  Iioiir  givoM  tho  moiit  m»  Htrotij;;  ■in  odoiir  that  it 
cuii  wcnrccly  1m>  oati'ii. 

Till-  only  ivccnt  iicconnt  \v«-  li!ivi«  tlnis  far  iTccivcd.  tliiit  contaiMH 
ori-,MnaI  and  antlicnlic  intorniation  alxml  t'lin  Hiiif^ular  wild  hojr,  was  tiir- 
nislicd  UH  by  Mr.  Wii.mam  T.  Smith.  IIo  luid  lu'cn  wnt  to  this  connlry 
l>y  ouri'vor  kin<l  iViiMid.  tluf  |{iM;Iit  llonoural»I.«  tlio  Kaki.ok  Dkimiv,  lor  flic 
imrposo  ofpn.curin.u;  livin-j  animals  to  .'iiricli  his  colkn'tion  at  Knowsk-y, 
noar  l.iviM'iiool.  Wi>  oiipiMfod  him  also  to  olitaiii  for  uw  any  raro  s|)c<'ioK 
lu>  could  moot  with  in  Texas,  and  t(»  send  dosoriptionn  of  their  haliits, 
and  any  other  information  likely  to  lie  of  interest  to  the  readers  of  iIm'h 
work.     Mr.  SMrra  wont  to  Texas  in  ISH,  and  shortly  afterwards  sent   ii.s 

tlio  tMlowinjr  account  of  the  IVccary.      lie  says, 

"  The  Mexican  hofj^s  previous  to  the  ovorllowiiifjf  of  the  bottom  lands  in 
18.su,  siriick  terror  into  the  hearts  of  the  settlers  in  their  vicinity,  oOcn- 
times  pursninij  the  planter  whilst  hnntinjr  or  in  senrch  of  the  lost  track 
of  his  waiuleiiiifi:  callU" -at  which  lime  they  lVc(pn>ntly  kill  d  his  do^s, 
or«>ven  at  limes  torccd  him  to  ascend  n  tree  for  safety,  where  he  wouhl 
sometimes  lie  o!ili^M«d  to  wait  until  the  hou;s  ijoi  tired  of  dancing'  attend, 
ance  at  the  foot  ol  his  place  of  security,  or  leO  him  to  no  and  feed.  TIicsa 
animals  appeared  »niile  savage,  and  would,  after  ciunin^'  to  the  free  in 
which  the  planter  had  <'nseons(-(l  himself,  snap  their  teeth  and  run  about 
and  then  li<'  down  at  the  root  of  the  tree  to  wait  for  their  enemy  to  eomo 
down.  At  this  early  period  of  the  settlement  of  'I'cxas.  (this  refers  lo 
18;{.S,)  they  used  to  Inmt  this  animal  in  company,  l''rom  livt^  lo  (iflecn 
planters  lop-ther,  and  occasionally  a  larger  number  of  hunters,  woidd 
.join  in  the  pursuit  of  lhes(>  ravap-rs  of  their  corn-liclds,  in  order  to 
diminish  their  numbi-r  and  prevent  th(<ir  farther  depredations,  as  at  timoH 
they  would  nearly  destroy  a  farmer's  crop.  Sinc(^  this  linie,  however 
flieir  number  has  greatly  decr(>ased,  and  it  is  now  u  dillicult  matt.T  lo 
find  them." 

"On  some  parts  of  the  Hrazos  they  still  exist,  and  in  others  are  quite 
abundant." 

Mr.  SMrni  further  says,  "The  two  1  send  you  are  the  only  ones  I  have 
iicanl  of  since  my  arrival  in  this  country.  I  hap|)cncd,  with  the  assist- 
ance of  a  person,  lo  tiud  out  their  i.iir,  which  is  always  in  some  hollow 
tree,  allhoush  tliey  have  jnany  sleeping  places.  IleiiiH:  late  in  the  day 
1  was  determined  rot  lo  disturb  them  uiiin  a  more  favour!ibh>  lime  would 
l>rcsent  itself,  as  I  was  anxious,  it'  possible,  to  procure  them  alive.  Some 
liiii(>  jiassed,  and  everything'  bcinu:  ready,  ihc  doys  soon  compelled  then, 
lo  make  for  home,  when  they  having;  entered,  we  secured  the  entrance  of 
their  hole,  and  cut  a  lar«;e  opening  up  the  btnly  of  the  tree,  a  few  feel 


COr.LAIlKI)  PliCCARY. 


239 


Hbove  them,  from  which  "  point  of  vnntnpo"  vv«  wcrn  enabled  eaHily  to 
•  In.p  a  noose  roin„|   il.nr  ne.-ks,   wl.ii-h   we  ti^hl,.,,,,,!   nrilil   we  thought 
they  were  n.-arly  sn(l„eat.-(l ;  wv  then  (h-ow  thetn  „ul,  tied  their  \v^r»  and 
feet  se.-urely,  and  Castened  their  inowlhs  hy  hindinw  ihc-ir  jaws  together 
will,  eords.  and  then  leCt  thein  lyiriK  ,.n  the  frmniul  for  a  "tiir.e.     On  (.ur 
'■.•(nrn  w.^  I'uund  that  they  had  >r<»t  over  the  elleet  oC  the  'experimental 
liaM>?i.i>,''  they  had  ^one  through.      We  put  then,  aei-oss  a  horse,  and  in 
trying  to  yet  loose  they  so  ti>,'htei,e(l  the  I'opes  ar,(l  e,iitan«l<-d   then',  ahont 
lluir  necks,  that  they  died  helor.^  we  ohserviu!  this  on  our  way  home  with 
Ih.  in.     'I'his  is  th(^  usual  mod<.  of  taking  these  animalis  alive,  although 
some  mv  enuj,dit  in  pits.     'I  I.ey  have  a  lar^^e.  miisk-hajr  npon  the  back, 
iVoin  which  a  very  disa>,M-e(!al.lo  odour  is  emitted  whilst  the  anin,al  is  ex- 
eiled;  but  this  is  not  observable  after  they  ar<i  killed.     'Ihc;  (lesh  of  the 
f<'male  is  pood  at  Homo  seasons  of  the  year,  but  that  of  the  male  is  stronjf, 
c(.ars(-   and   disaf,Mreabl,-  at  all  times.     'I'heir   principal    food  cm.sists  of 
mifs  of  every  descriplion  (m.-isl)  dui-intr  wii.fcr;  but  in  summer  they  feed 
on  succulent  plants,  with   which  lb.'  bottom  lands  in  the  Ura/.os  abound. 
The  mah(  measunnl  foi-ty  inches  fnmi  the  ti|)  of  its  nose  to  that  of  its  tail ; 
the   female   is  sho.-ter  by  two   inches.      The   ,.yes  aic   very   dark  hazel 
I'olour." 

"  As  soon  as  they  uet  within  their  d<"n,  otie  of  them,  probably  th<!  o](h,st 
inale,  stands  sentin.a  at  the  ..nt,-an.;e.  Should  the  hunter  kill  it,  another 
immediately  takes  its  place;,  ar,d  so  in  siiee»!Ssion  until  all  are  killed. 
This  animal,  wl,ich  in  Texas  is  always  called  the  wild  hog,  i.s  considcrr.'d 
the  bravest  animal  of  these  forests,  for  it  dreads  neitl.  -  man  nor  beast." 

The  Collarcid  IViceary  is  .easily  domesticated,  and  ])re(!ds  readily  in 
conlinement.  We,  saw  a  pair  on  board  of  a  ship  that  arrived  in 
Charleston  from  South  Am.n-ica,  the  femah!  of  which  l,ad  produc('d  two 
ynnufjr  whilst  on  tlie  passage;  thc^  were  then  several  weeks  old,  and 
tieemed  to  be  in  a  thriving  condition. 

M»,iis.  M.  r..  !■:.  MoMRAii  Saint  Mkrv,  the  translator  of  ihr.  work  of 
D'AzARA,  from  the  Spanish  into  the  French  language,  states  that  in  17H7 
he  saw  at  the  residence  of  the  Governor  General  La  Luziirni;,  a  tame 
('ollared  I'eccary,  whierh  he  had  procured  Crom  Carthagena,  with  the  in- 
tention of  multiplying  the  speci<'s  in  San  Domingo,  (Note  du  Tradiioteur 
D'AzAUA,  torn,  i.,  p.  ly.)  We  observed  at  the  Zoological  t;ardens  in  Lon- 
d<.n,  young  Peccaries  that  had  l>een  born  in  the  menagerie.  'J'his  animal, 
however,  is  less  prolilie  th„n  the  eommon  domesticated  hog,  and  its  o<Ior. 
'WIS  gl.'uids  being  moreover  od'ensive,  the  exteiisiv<«  domestication  of  it 
would  not  be  attended  with  any  profit  to  the  agriculturist. 

We  have   freiiueiitly  se.ii  the  Collared   i'eeeary  in  eonfinemeul.     One 


i     I 


i 


240 


COLLARED  PECCARY. 


tliat  is  at  present  (1840)  in  a  menagerie  in  Charleston,  is  exceedingly 
gentle,  tuUing  its  food  from  tlie  hand,  and  allowing  itself  to  be  caressed 
even  by  strangers.  It  lies  down  in  the  manner  of  a  pig,  and  next  to 
giving  it  food,  the  greatest  favour  you  can  bestow  on  it  is  to  scratch  it 
either  with  'he  hand  or  a  stick.  It  however  is  easily  irritated.  We  no- 
ticed that  it  has  .1  particular  antipathy  to  the  dog,  and  when  approached 
In  that  animal  iirunediately  phices  itself  in  a  defensive  attitude,  raising 
ils  bristles,  showing  its  tusks,  stamping  its  feet,  and  uttering  a  sharp 
cry  which  might  be  heard  at  the  distance  of  seventy  yards ;  when  in  a 
good  humour,  however,  it  occasionally  utters  a  low  grunt  like  a  pig.  It 
seems  to  suffer  much  from  cold,  and  is  always  most  lively  and  phiyful  on 
warm  days.  It  appears  to  prefer  Indian-corn,  potatoes,  bread  and  fruits, 
but  like  the  domestic  hog  evinces  no  unwillingness  to  take  any  kind  of 
food  that  is  presented  to  it.  We  remarked,  however,  that  it  is  decidedly 
less  carnivorous  than  the  common  hog. 

It  is  stated  by  authors  that  this  species  produces  but  once  a  year,  and 

brings  forth  oidy  two  at  a  litter. 

) 

GEOGRAPHICAL    DISTRIBUTION. 

The  Collared  Peccary  has  a  most  extensive  geographical  range.  It 
was  seen  by  NirnAi,  at  the  Red  River  in  Arkansas,  north  latitude  31**. 
Our  specimens  were  obluincd  in  Texas.  It  exists  in  all  the  lower  portions 
of  Mexico  and  Yucatan,  and  is  found  every  where  within  the  tropics.  It 
is  said  by  D'Azara  to  be  abundant  at  Paraguay,  south  latitude  37°,  thus 
spreading  itself  through  an  extent  of  sixty-eight  degrees  of  latitude. 

GENERAL    REMARKS. 


This  species  has  been  noticed  by  all  the  early  travellers  in  South 
America  and  Mexico.  They  however  almost  invariably  confounded 
the  habits  of  two  species.  D'Azara  pointed  out  the  distinctive  marks 
which  separate  these  species.  They  ditl'er  so  much  from  each  other 
that  tliey  ought  never  to  have  been  mistaken.  Linn^^us  applied  the  name 
Sus  tajdcu,  but  as  it  is  impossible  to  ascertain  which  species  he  had  in 
view  we  cann"t  use  his  name  for  either.  Ray,  Erxleben,  and  Sciireber 
applied  the  same  name,  and  committed  the  same  error.  Brisson  gave  the 
name  Apcr  Amcricanus,  and  Klein  that  of  Forcits  musc/iiferns  in  the  same 
manner,  without  discriminating  the  species.  Baron  Cuvier  established 
the  genus  Dvcoivi.es,  and  F.  Ci  vii:u  iipplied  the  si)ocific  name  of  torffiiatus. 
Bi;n()N,  who  had  liciird  from  l\I.  De  i,a  Borde  tluit  there  were  two  distinct 
species  in  Cayenne,  considered  them  as  mere  varieties  produced  by  age, 


COLLARED  PECCARY. 


241 


liut  gave,  as  he  supposed,  a  figure  of  each ;  his  figures,  however,  which 
are  of  no  value,  both  refer  to  the  present  species,  and  bear  no  resemblance 
to  the  white-lipped  Peccary,  (D.  lahiatus.) 

It  is  somewhat  strange"  that  Griffith,  in  his  "  Animal  Kingdom,"  which 
he  states  was  arranged  by  Baron  Cuvier,  should  have  completely  misun- 
derstood  D'Azara,  (Histoire  Naturelle,  torn,  i.,  p,  31,)  and  reversed  the 
habits  of  the  two  species,  (Cuvier,  Animal  Kingdom,  by  Griffith,  vol.  iii. 
p.  411,)  giving  D'AzARA  as  authority  for  applying  the  habits  of  the  pre- 
sent species,  Tajussu,  (Dycotyles  torqualus,)  to  those  of  his  Tagnicati,  {D. 
labiatus,)  giving  at  the  same  time  a  pretty  good  figure  of  the  latter.  It 
may  however  be  easily  seen  that  the  whole  object  of  D'Azara's  article 
on  this  species  was  to  correct  the  very  error  into  which  GRiFprnt  tias 
fallen. 


h  10  V  V  S    (I  I.  A  ('  I  A  L  T  S.  "Lkaoii. 


rtii.Aii  iiai 


ri-ATK  XXXII.     M,\i,i;.     In  huiiihk  r  |ii'ln>,'f.     Niiliiiiil  h'i/.o. 

I/,    losliilf    (lilulc    cinorcns,    livi'ino    iiivciiM,    I'ilis   Hl'ioo    ml    niditM'm    iilhiH ; 
nmiiiiii  a|iicil)us  iiij^ris;   vulpt's  iii:i};iiitu(liiu>. 


(■ii.\ii.\<ri;us. 


As  liiri/r  (IS  <t  fox  ;  rohtiir,  in  siihiiini;  tiijht  i/nn/  ahorr  ,•  in  winti'i;  w/iih\ 
the  fniirx  (If  tloit  .i((is(»i  hdiKj  irhit(  fioin  the  nxits.      7'i/is  of  (dis,  hiack. 

HYNONYMHW. 
Wwn-V.  If  \Ul:s,  niHcovi-vioM  iin.1  Srtll.-miMitn  of  llii>  KiikHhIi   in  Aiin<iii>iv,  from  tlin   reit^n  of 


lli'iiiv  II.  til   llii>  flosc 
vvil.  xii.,  ]'.  '.'i(i. 


iif  Mml.  t>l'  l,>m>n\  i;ii/.iilpi'lli,  iiu.  led  from   I'inki'rlnn'H  VoyiigoH, 


Ai.riM.  Ilviti:.  I'hilosopliii'iil  TriiiiHiu'tioiin,  l.omloii,  vol.  Ixvi.,it.  ^'""i,  An.  1777, 
Lkims  'I'lMlMi  s,  I'lilui  ,  l''ii\inii  (irci'iiliinilini,  |i.  '.'.">. 
Vmiyimi  II  \hi:,  ri'Miiiinl,  Arc.  /ool..  vol.  i.,  p.  1)1. 
Wlliri-.  II  MlK,  lli'iirni's  .Io\irni'y.  (i.  '.\^'i. 

('iirtwri|;lil'«.lourniil,  vol.  ii,,  p.  75, 
l.i'.rrs  (ii.vciAi.is,  lii'iich.  /ool.  Miwdl  my,  ISM. 
"  "  Uoss's  Voyiijfo. 

••  "  fajiliiin  Suliino'M  Snppl.  I'ihtv'h  l.it,  Vo.viiKC,  p,  IMS. 

"  "  rr;iiikliM',M  .lonrniil.  p.  lilll. 

"  "  liiclmrdson,  App.'iulix  to  I'lvrrj'.s  ^M  Voyiigc,  p.  :WI. 

roi.All  II  \\{V„  ll:ul:m,  Kiinn.'i,  p.  l!tl. 

lioiliniin,  Nat..  Ilisl.,  vol.  ii.,  p.   H)-. 
Li'lTS  (Ji.MlAl.l.s  Kii'liuv.lson.  I''uiinii  Itori'iili  Anii'vii'iuiiv,  p.  'i'i\. 

UiKliniiui,  Aiii.l.  Niil.  Scii'nci'.x,  IMiilii.,  vol.  vii.,  pint,!). 


l)i;siuil'l'l(>N. 


Tills   liiu'  spooii's   is  coiisi 


iltTiiUlv  lui<j;i'r   lliaii   I  lie   Kno;lisli   liiirc,   (A.   timi 


this.)  lload,  laririT  ami  longer  than  that  of  tho  Kurui.can  hare;  luro- 
hoa.l,  more  aivhoil ;  body,  Ions,';  "'Wi',  liluiit. ;  i-ycs,  lar;.,'o ;  ear.s,  Ioml;; 
wliiski'i'! 


I'oniposiM 


1   of    a    li'W   slitV   lonj;    hairs;    Icijs,    long;    soles  of    fi'ol, 
broad,    tliieklv    eovorml   with    hair    eoneoaliiii'    the    nails,   Avhioh    aro    long, 


I'OI.AIt  !IMIK. 


243 


liiodrrnlfly  broad,  nrul  snmo.wUnt  nrvhvil  Tail,  „f  rruuh.vnU'  l.-riKth 
wo..lly  at,  Iho  roolH,  int..nr.ixr,l  will,  l„„n,.r  [..UrH.  Tl,,,  fur  ot,  U„.  I.nrk 
is  r,.„mrkal,ly  rl.,s,>  and  firw;  .Imt,  ,.n  ll...  ,„.,|,.r  surfanc,  i«  Um^,',;  and  r.ot 
(|iiilr  so  closd. 


coiiOim. 

In  wintrr,  tl,„  I»„|,,r  Flan-  is,.nlir,.|y  wl.il,.  o,.  nv.-ry  part,  of  |,h,,  l„.dy 
.•X.TI.I  ll,„  (i,,s  of  11...  ,.„,.«;  Mm,  l.uirs  aro  of  .1,,,  sa,,,..  colour  to  (,1,„  rootn 
'J'Im,  rars  arr  ti|.|..Mi  will,  hairs  of  a  l.rowrii,s|,.|,|,,d<  ro|„„r.  \n  lis  sum- 
inrr  drrss.  tl.iH  s|„..-i,-s  is  of  a  «rayisl,-l,row.,  ro|„„r  on  ll.r  who!.,  of  iho 
lH-a.I  ,.xt,.n.lin^r  „,  ,h„  ,,„r„.  ,„„,^  ,,,„,.,^^  Unv,\vvv,l  with  whih,  on  their 
ontrr  n.airins;  i.n.h'r  parts  of  th(,  ,u-vk,  and  Ihr  l.nast,  dark  UhnsU-Kmy 
\hr  whol..  ..f  Ih..  Unv.k,  li^l.t  hrownish-j-ray.  Thf  fur  in.dtT  th.,  lon,r  hai'rH 
ol  Ih..  I.a.-k  is  soil,  and  woolly,  „„.!  of  a  Krayish-ash  ;  lh„  hairs  inl.-r- 
N|..-rs,.d  auM.nu  ihr  fur  an*  <larl<  hluo  nmr  Ih.-  roots,  then  l,la.,k  tipm-d 
with  Krayish-fawn  r.d.air;  a,  (rw  l,la.-k  and  whit.,  hairs  ar..  interspersed 
tlM-on«h.,ul.  Tin-  w.ml  on  th.,  un.l.,r  siu-faee  is  hlnish-whil.,,  intorspersed 
will.  loiiK  hairs  .,f  a  slate  .,.)Iour ;  ll...  hairs  IWrtnin-  the  whisk.Ts  are 
white  an.l  l.laek.  th.,  for.n.-r  i)redonnnatinj?.  'I'h.,  inn.,r  sid.-s  of  the  fore- 
leRH,  thighs,  an.l  .Mid.,r  Hurfao.i  of  the  tail,  pur.,  while;  th.,  hairs  .,n  Iho 
8oh-s  are  y.'ll.>wish-l,rown  ;  nails,  nearly  l.la.^c.  Ao.,..r<Iinj,'  I.,  ila,-aAR»- 
HON,  "th.'  iri.!,.s  an,  ..f  a  hon.-y.y,.|low  .colour."  The  skin  of  this  species 
appears  to  be  n(,arly  as  t.,nd.r  as  that  .»f  the  Northern  hare. 

UIMHNHIONB, 


20  inches, 
.lo. 


Rpeeimen,  obtained  at  Labrador. 

Len>!;th  of  Jiead  and  l).).ly 

"         fnan  p.tint  of  n.)s.' to  .'or 

'*         of  (,ar,  ni.  asur.'d  i)osteri.)rly     - 

"  tail  (vertebra) 

tail,  ineliidinj^  fur  .... 

whisk. 'rs      ----.. 
from  wrist-joint  I.)  p.)int  of  rni.Idl.,  claw  - 
"     beel  to  nii.l.ll..  daw 

Weight,  fp.)rn  7  to  1 1  lbs. 
These  measurements  w.-n,  lak.'i.   from  the  specimen  after  it  had  been 
Hfiiffe.1.     We  are  und(,r  th.,  impr.'ssion  tliat  it  was  a  little  longer  in  its 
recent  state. 


M 
<l 
l( 


•11 


do. 
do. 
do. 

d.). 


MJ     do. 
«i     do. 


IIADITB. 


It  in  to  the  cold  and  inhospitable  icgit.na  of  the  North,  the  rugged  valleys 


244 


POLAR  HARE. 


of  Labrador,  and  the  wild  mountain-sides  of  that  desolate  land,  or  to  the 
yet  wilder  and  more  sterile  countries  that  extend  from  thence  toward  the 
west,  thai,  we  must  resort,  to  find  the  large  and  beautiful  Hare  we  have 
now  to  describe  ;  and  if  we  advance  even  to  the  highest  latitude  man  has 
ever  reached,  we  shall  still  find  the  Polar  Hare,  though  the  meicury  fail 
below  zero,  and  huge  snow-drifts  impede  our  progress  through  the  track- 
less waste. 

Both  Indians  and  trappers  are  occasionally  relieved  from  almost  certain 
starvation  by  the  existence  of  this  Hare,  which  is  found  throughout  the 
whole  range  of  country  extending  from  the  Eastern  to  the  Western  shores 
of  Northern  America,  and  includes  nearly  thirty-five  degrees  of  latitude, 
h-om  the  extreme  North  to  Newfoundland. 

In  various  parts  of  this  thinly  inhabited  and  unproductive  region,  the 
Polar  Kara,  perhaps  the  finest  of  all  the  American  hares,  takes  up  its  re- 
sidence. It  is  covered  in  the  long  dark  v/inter  with  a  coat  of  warm  fur, 
so  dense  that  it  cannot  be  penetrated  by  the  rain,  and  which  is  an  effec- 
tual protection  from  the  intense  cold  of  the  rigorous  climate. 

Its  changes  of  colour  help  to  conceal  it  from  the  observation  of  it.s 
enemies ;  in  summer  it  is  nearly  of  the  colour  of  the  earth  and  the  sur- 
rounding  rocks,  and  in  winter  it  assumes  a  snow-white  coat.  The  changes 
it  thus  undergoes,  correspond  with  the  shortness  of  the  summers  and  the 
length  of  th<  Arctic  winters.  In  the  New  England  States  the  Northern 
hare  continues  white  ibr  about  five  months,  that  being  the  usual  duration 
of  the  winters  there  ;  but  in  the  Arctic  regions,  where  the  summer  lasts  for 
about  three  months  only,  whilst  th.  earth  during  the  remainder  of  tho 
year  is  covered  with  snow,  were  the  Polar  Hare  not  to  become  white  till 
November,  (the  time  when  the  Northern  hare  changes,)  it  would  for  two 
months  be  exposed  to  the  keen  eyes  of  its  greatest  destroyers,  the  golden 
eagle  and  the  snowy  owl,  as  its  dark  fur  would  be  conspicuous  on  the 
snow ;  or  were  it  to  become  brown  in  April,  it  would  wear  its  summer 
dress  long  before  the  earth  had  thrown  off  its  mantle  of  white,  or  a  single 
bud  had  peeped  through  the  snow. 

The  eye  of  the  Polar  Hare  is  adapted  to  the  twilight  that  reigns  during 
a  considerable  part  of  the  year  within  the  Arctic  circle ;  in  summer  ii 
avoids  the  glare  of  the  almost  continual  day-light,  seeking  the  shade  of 
the  little  thickets  of  dwarfish  trees  that  are  scattered  over  the  barren 
grounds,  the  woods  that  skirt  the  streams,  or  the  shelter  of  some  over- 
hanging  rock. 

In  addition  to  the  circumstance  that  the  eye  of  this  Hare  is  well  fitted 
for  seeing  with  a  very  moderate  light,  it  may  be  remarked  that  in  winter 
the  frequent  and  long  continued  luminous  .appeanvnnp  of  the  heavtu.^ 


POLAR  HARE. 


caused  by  the  aurora  borealis,  together  with  the  brightness  of  the  unsuL 
bed  snow,  afford  a  sufficient  degree  of  light  for  it  to  proceed  with  its  cus- 
ternary  occu[)ations. 

During  the  summer  this  species  is  found  on  the  borders  of  thickets,  or 
in  stony  or  rocky  places.  In  winter  it  is  often  seen  in  the  barren  and 
open  country,  where  only  a  few  stunted  shrubs  and  clumps  of  spruce  fir 
{Abies  rubra)  afford  it  .shelter,  differing  in  this  habit  from  the  Northern 
hare,  which  confines  itself  to  thick  woods  throughout  the  year,  avoiding 
cleared  fields  and  open  groum'. 

Captain  Ross  says  of  the  Polar  Hare,  "There  is  scarcely  a  spot  in  the 
Arctic  regions,  the  most  desolate  and  sterile  that  can  be  conceived,  where 
this  animal  is  not  to  be  found,  and  that  too,  throughout  the  winter;  nor 
does  it  seek  to  shelter  itself  from  the  inclemency  of  the  weather  by' bur- 
rowing in  the  snow,  but  is  found  generally  sitting  solitarily  under  the  lee 
of  a  large  stone,  where  the  snow  drift  as  it  passes  along,  seems  in  some 
measure  to  afford  a  protection  from  the  bitterness  of  the  blast  that  iinpels 
it,  by  collecting  around  and  half  burying  the  animal  beneath  it." 

The  food  of  this  species  varies  with  the  season.  IIearxe  tells  us  that 
"in  winter  it  feeds  on  long  rye-grass  and  the  tops  of  dwarf  willows,  but 
in  summer  it  eats  berries  and  different  sorts  of  small  herbage." 

According  to  Richardson,  "it  seeks  the  sides  of  the  hHIs,  where  the 
wind  prevents  the  snow  from  lodging  deeply,  and  where  even  in  the  win- 
ter  it  can  procure  the  berries  of  the  Alpine  arbutus,  the  bark  of  some 
dwarf  willows,  (Salix,)  or  the  evergreen  leaves  of  the  Labrador  tea- 
plant,"  {Ledum  latifoUum.)  Captain  Lyon,  in  his  private  journal,  has 
noted  that  on  the  barren  coast  of  Winter  Island,  the  Hares  went  out  on 
the  ice  to  the  ships,  to  feed  on  the  tea-leaves  thrown  overboard  by  the 
sailors." 

The  Polar  Hare  is  not  a  very  shy  or  timid  animal,  but  has  on  being  ap- 
preached  much  the  same  habits  as  the  Nortiiern  hare.  "It  merely  "runs 
to  a  little  distance,  (says  RicnARnsoN,)  and  sits  down,  repeating  this  ma- 
noeuvre as  often  as  its  pursuer  comes  nearly  within  gun-shot,  until  it  is 
thoroughly  scared  by  his  perseverance,  when  it  makes  off  It  is  not  dif- 
ficult to  get  within  bow-shot  of  it  by  walking  round  it  and  gradually  con 
tracting  the  circle— a  method  much  practised  by  the  Indians."  IIkarne 
had  previously  made  the  same  observations  ;  he  says  also,  "  the  iniddle, 
of  the  day,  if  it  be  clear  weather,  is  the  best  time  to  kill  them  in  tliis 
manner,  ibr  before  and  after  noon  the  sun's  altitude  being  so  small,  makes 
a  man's  shadow  so  long  on  the  snow  as  to  frighten  the  Hare  before  he 
can  approach  near  enough  to  kiL  it.     The  same  may  be  said  of  deer  wlien 


31G 


POLAR  HARE 


on  open  plams,  ■wl.ich  are  frequently  more  frightened  at  the  long  fihadov. 
'ban  at  the  man  himself." 

Ail  travellers  coiuuir  in  stating  the  flesh  of  this  animal  to  he  of  a  finer 
flavour  than  that  of  any  of  oiu-  other  hares.  We  ()l)taiiie(l  one  wliile  at 
St.  George's  Bay,  in  Newfoundland,  and  all  our  party  made  a  meal  of  it ; 
we  pronounced  it  delicious  food. 

A  lady  residing  at  that  place  informed  us  that  she  had  domesticate,, 
the  Polar  Hare,  and  had  reared  some  of  ihem  for  food.  8he  said  that  the 
flesh  was  fine-flavoured,  and  the  animals  easily  tamed,  and  that  she  had 
only  been  induced  to  discontinue  keeping  them  in  consequence  of  their 
becoming  troublesome,  and  destructive  in  her  garden. 

The  Polar  Hare  is  stated  by  Richardson,  on  the  authority  of  Indian 
hunters,  to  bring  forth  once  in  a  year,  and  only  three  young  at  a  litter. 
That  owing  to  the  short  summer  of  the  Arctic  regions,  it  does  not  produce 
more  than  once  annually,  is  !io  doubt  true;  but  the  number  of  young 
brought  forth  at  a  time,  we  are  inclined  to  believe,  was  not  correctly 
given  by  the  Indian  hunters.  * 

Cartvvright  (see  Jour.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  76)  killed  a  female  of  this  species  at 
Labrador  on  the  11th  June,  from  which  he  took  five  young. 

Capt.  Ross  says,  "  a  female  killed  by  one  of  our  party  at  Sheriff"  Har 
hour  on  the  7th  of  June,  had  four  young  in"  utero,  perfectly  mature,  .5^ 
inches  long,  and  of  a  dark  gray  colour.  In  one  shot  at  Igloolik,  on  the 
2d  June,  six  young  were  found,  not  quite  so  far  advanced." 

An  intelligent  farmer  who  had  resided  some  years  in  Newfoundland, 
informed  us  that  he  had  on  several  occasions  counted  the  young  of  tht 
Polar  Hare,  and  had  never  found  less  than  five,  and  often  had  taken  seven 
from  one  nest.  He  considered  the  average  number  of  young  to  each  lit- 
te"-  as  six.  FABRrcius,  alluding  to  the  habits  of  this  species  as  existing  in 
Greenland,  says,  "They  pair  in  April,  and  in  the  month  of  June  produce 
eight  young  at  a  birth." 

Some  idea  may  be  formed  of  the  very  short  period  this  species  con- 
tinues in  its  summer  colours,  from  the  following  remarks  of  dilferent 
observers.  In  Bfaciiv's  Narrative,  (p.  417,)  is  the  Ibllowing  notice; — 
"M(iy5tli.  The  party  killed  a  white  Hare,  it  was  getting  its  summer 
coat."  Cartwriout  killed  one  on  the  lltli  June,  and  remarks  that  it  was 
yet  white.  We  obtained  a  specimen  on  the  1.^1  h  August,  1833,  and  ascer- 
tained that  the  change  from  summer  to  winter  colours  had  already  com- 
menced. There  was  a  large  spot,  nearly  a  hand's  breadth,  of  pure  white 
on  the  back,  extem'ng  nearly  to  the  insertion  of  the  tail;  three  or  four 
white  spots  about  an  inch  in  diameter  were  also  found  on  the  sides. 


POLAR  HARE. 


247 


Captain  lliss  states — "One  taken  by  us  on  the  28th  of  June,  a  few 
days  after  its  birth,  soon  became  sufficiently  tame  to  eat  from  our  hands 
and  was  allowed  to  run  loose  about  the  cabin.  During'  the  summer  we 
fed  it  on  such  jjlaiifs  as  the  country  produced,  and  stored  up  a  quantity  of 
grass  and  astragali  for  its  winter  coiisum;)lion  ;  but  it  preferred  to  share 
with  us  whatever  our  table  could  alford,  and  would  enjoy  peas-soup, 
plum-pudding,  bread,  barley-soup,  sugar,  rice,  and  even  cheese,  with  us. 
It  could  not  endure  to  be  caressed,  but  was  exceedingly  fond  of  company, 
and  would  sit  for  hours  listening  to  a  convcisation,  which  was  no  sooner 
ended  than  he  would  retire  to  his  cabin;  he  was  a  continual  source  of 
amusement  by  his  sagacity  and  j)layfulness."  *  #  #  "The 
fur  of  the  Polar  Hare  is  so  exceedingly  soa,  that  an  Esquimaux  woman 
spun  some  of  its  wool  into  a  thread,  and  knitted  several  pairs  cf  gloves, 
one  pair  of  which,  beautifully  white,  came  into  my  possession.  It  resem- 
bled the  Angola  wool,  but  was  still  softer." 

The  specimen  we  procured  in  Newfoundland  weighed  seven  and  a  half 
pounds;  it  was  obtained  on  the  15th  August,  in  the  midst  of  summer, 
when  all  hares  are  lean.  It  was  at  a  period  of  the  year  also,  when  in 
that  island  they  are  incessantly  harassed  by  the  troublesome  moose-fly 
Deer,  hares,  (fee,  and  even  men,  suffer  very  much  in  consequence  of  their 
attacks.  The  Indians  we  saw  there,  although  tempted  by  a  high  reward, 
refused  to  go  in  search  of  these  Hares,  from  a  dread  of  this  persecuting 
insect ;  and  our  party,  who  had  gone  on  a  moose-hunt,  were  obliged  by 
the  inflammation  succeeding  the  bites  inflicted  on  them  to  return  on  the 
same  day  they  started. 

Dr.  Richardson  sets  down  the  weight  of  a  full  grown  Polar  Hare  as 
varying  according  to  its  condition  from  seven  to  fourteen  pounds. 

In  Beaciiy's  Narrative  there  is  an  account  of  a  Polar  Hare,  killed  on 
the  l.'jth  May,  that  n-eighed  nearly  twelve  pounds;  and  Hearne  (see 
Journey,  p.  383)  says  that,  "  in  good  condition  many  of  them  weigh  from 
fourteen  to  fifteen  pounds." 


GEOGRAPIUCAL    DISTRtBUTFON. 


This  species  occupies  a  wide  range  in  the  northern  portions  ot  oui  con- 
tinent; it  extends  from  the  shores  of  Baffin's  Bay  across  the  co  t 
Bcliring's  Straits.  It  has  been  seen  as  far  north  as  the  North  v  >^  n 
Ishinds,  in  latitude  7.')°.  On  the  western  portion  of  the  American  -  ,,.- 
tinent  it  has  not  been  found  further  to  the  south  than  latitude  64°,  but  on 
the  eastern  coast  it  reaches  much  farther  south.  Riciiardsov  has  stated 
that  its  most  southerly  known  habitat  is  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Fori 


218 


POLAR  HARE. 


Churchill,  on  Hudson's  Bny,  which  is  in  the  58th  parallel  of  latitude,  but 
remarks,  (hat  it  may  perhaps  extend  further  to  the  southward  on  the 
elevated  ridy;cs  of  the  Rocky  Mount.iins,  or  on  the  Eastern  coast,  in  Labra- 
dor. We  have  ascertained  that  on  the  eastern  coast  of  America  it  exists 
at  least  ten  and  a  half  di'j^rees  s()\ith  of  the  latitude  a.ssi>^ned  to  it  above 
as  we  procured  our  specimen  at  Njwfoundland,  in  latitude  47^°,  where 
it  was  <piite  conuiion ;  and  we  have  been  informed  that  it  alsso  exists  in 
the  northern  portions  of  Nova  Scotia.  To  the  north-east,  it  has  found  its 
way  across  Baflin's  Bay,  and  exists  in  Greenland. 


GENERAL    RF.MARKS. 

Although  the  Polar  Hare  was  noticed  at  a  very  early  period  in  the  his- 
tory of  America,  until  recently  it  was  considered  identical  with  other 
species  that  have  since  been  ascertained  to  differ  from  it.  The  writer  of 
the  History  of  Discoveries  and  Settlements  of  the  English  in  America, 
from  the  reign  of  Henry  A'll.  to  the  close  of  that  of  Queen  Elizabeth, 
speaking  of  the  animals  at  Churchill  <and  Hudson's  Bay,  (see  Pinkerton, 
Voy.,  vol.  vii.,  p.  270,)  says,  "  the  hares  grow  white  in  winter,  and  recover 
their  colour  in  spring;  they  have  very  large  ears  which  are  always 
black  ;  iheir  skins  in  winter  are  very  pretty,  of  fine  long  hair  which  does 
not  fall ;  so  that  they  make  very  line  mufi's." 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  Polar  Hare  was  here  alluded  to.  Pen- 
nant remarked  that  its  size  was  greater  than  that  of  the  varying  hare, 
with  which  it  had  so  long  been  considered  identical.  Hearne,  who  ob- 
served it  on  our  continent,  and  Fabricujs,  who  obtained  it  in  Greenland, 
regarded  it  as  the  varying  hare.  Leach,  in  1811,  (Zoological  Miscellany,) 
characterized  it  as  a  new  species.  It  was  subsequently  noticed  by  Sa- 
bine, Franklin,  and  Richardson.  As  an  evidence  of  how  little  was  known 
of  our  American  hares  until  very  recently,  we  would  refer  to  the  fact  that 
in  the  las  <>;rncrcil  work  on  American  quadrupeds  by  an  American 
author,  published  by  Dr.  Godman  in  1820,  only  two  hares  were  ad.niited 
into  our  Fauna — Lcpiis  Americanus,  by  which  he  referred  to  our  array 
rabbit,  and  Lrpns  glacialis,  which  together  with  Lepus  Virginiunu:>  ot 
Harlan,  lie  felt  disposed  to  refer  to  Lepus  variabilis  of  Europe,  leaving  us 
but  one  native  species,  and  even  to  that  applying  a  wrong  name.  We 
hope  in  this  work  to  be  able  to  present  our  readers  with  at  least  fourteen 
species  of  true  '^arf:;  that  exist  in  America  north  of  the  tropic  of  Cancer, 
all  peculiar  to  h.-  (MK-ntry, 

In  182!)  Dr  U  i  .  .  of  -,  gave  an  excellent  description,  (Fauna  Boreali 
'  mericana,  p.  .i2l,)  removing  every  doubt  as  to  Lepus  glacialis  being  fl 


POLAK  HARE. 


349 


rue  spaces.  In  1838.  having  obtuine.l  a  specimen  in  summer  pelage 
the  only  one  that  as  far  as  -  o  have  learned  existed  in  any  collection  in 
our  country  we  were  induced  to  describe  it.  (Journal  Acad.  Nat 
Sciences,  Philadelphia,  vol.  vjj.,  p.  886.) 


I  t 


•250 


GENUS  PUTORIUS.— Cuv- 


I     i 


Incisive 


DENTAL    FORMULA. 


1—1 


Canine  ■—■ ;  Molar  — 

1 — 1  5—5 


31. 


There  are  two  false  molars  above,  and  three  below ;  the  great  car- 
nivorous tooth  below,  without  an  internal  tubercle  ;  the  tuberculous  tooth 
in  the  upper  jaw,  very  long. 

Head,  small  and  oval ;  muzzle,  short  and  blunt ;  ears,  short  and  round ; 
body,  long  and  vermiform ;  neck,  long ;  legs,  short ;  five  toes  on  each  foot, 
armed  with  sharp  crooked  claws ;  tail,  long  and  cylindrical.  Animals  of 
this  genus  emit  a  fetid  odour,  and  are  nocturnal  in  habit ;  they  are  separat- 
ed from  the  martens  in  consequence  of  having  one  tooth  less  on  each 
.side  of  the  upper  jaw;  their  muzzle  is  also  shorter  and  thicker  than 
that  of  the  marten.  The  species  are  generally  small  in  size,  and  seldom 
climb  trees  like  the  true  martens. 

There  are  about  fifteen  well  determined  species  of  this  genus,  six  Or 
which  belong  to  America,  ond  the  remainder  to  the  Eastern  continent. 

The  generic  name  putorius  is  derived  from  the  Latin  word  pitlor — a 
fetid  smell. 


PUTORIUS   VISON.— Linn. 


Mink. 


PLATE  XXXIII.     Male  and  Fkmali. 


I 


P.  I'ulvus,  mente  albo ;  auribus  curtis ;  peflibus  semi-paimafis ;  cauda 
corporis  dimidiam  longa.     Mustoia  marte  minor. 


CHARACTERS. 


Lesi  than  (he  pine  marten ;   general  colour,  brown ;  chin  white ;   eur.s 
sfinH  ;  fee}  .ie,ni-p(ilmate  ;  tail.,  half  the  length  of  the  body. 


?at  car- 
US  tooth 

1  round ; 
ich  foot, 
imals  of 
separat- 
jxi  each 
er  than 
I  seldom 

5,    six   Of 

ent, 
nitor — -a 


;  Cauda 


'.e;  eur.s 


m 

ill!  Ti 

lifi    ^ 

It' 

tl 

v>^ 


\     — 


MINK. 


BYNONYf-ES. 


251 


Thk  Mink,  Smith's  Virginia,  1624.    Quoted  from  PInkcrton's  Voyages,  vol.  xiii.,  p.  3  i 

Otav,  Sagiird  Tiieodat,  Hist,  dii  Can.,  p.  74  9,  A.  D.  1«,30. 

FouTEHKAU,  La  Hontan,  Voy.  1.,  p.  81,  A.  D.  1703. 

Mink,  Kalni's  Travels,  Pinkerton's  Voy.,  vol.  xiii.,  p,  &22. 

Lk  Vison,  Uuffon,  xiii.,  p.  308,  t.  43. 

Mi'.sTELA  ViHON,  Linn.,  Gniel.,  i.,  p.  94. 

Minx,  Lawson's  Carolina,  p.  121. 

MusTEi.A  LuTHKOLA,  Forstpr,  Piiil.  Trans.,  Ixii.,  p.  371. 

Minx  Oi run,  Pennant,  Arct.  Zool.,  i.,  p.  87. 

ViHON  Wkase!.,  Ibid.,  i.,  p.  78. 

Jackash,    Ilearne's  Journey,  p.  376. 

Mlstei.a  Vison,  Cuv.,  Regiic  Anim.,  vol.  i.,  p.  150,  t.  1.  fig.  2. 

MusTEi.A  LuTUEOLA,  Sabiiic,  Frank  Joum.,  p.  052. 

Mustei.a  Vison,  and  M.  Lutkeockpiiai.a,  Harlan,  Fauna,  p.  03,  65. 

Mink,  Godman,  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  i.,  p.  206. 

Purouius  Vison,  Dekay,  Nat.  Hist.  New- York,  p.  37,  fig.  3,  a.  b.  skulL 


UKSCRimON. 


Rody,  long  and  slender ;  head,  small  and  depressed ;  nose,  short,  flat, 
iiiid  thick;  eye.s,  small,  Jind  placcul  Car  forward;  whiskers,  few,  and  rt-ach- 
iiig  to  the  ears;  ears  broad,  short,  rounded,  and  covered  with  hair;  ncHjk, 
very  long ;  legs,  short  and  .stout.     The  toes  are  connected  hy  >  hort  hairy 
webs,  and  may  be  described  as  semi-palmated.     Thi-re  are  short  hairs  on 
th(!  webs  above  and  below.     Claws,  very  slightly  arched,  and  acute.     On 
the  Ibre-fcet,  the  third  and  fourth  toes,  counting  from  the  inner  side,  arc  * 
about  of  equal  length ;  the  second  a  line  shorter,  the  fifth  a  little  less, 
and  the  first,  shortest.     On  the  hind-feet,  the  third  and  fourth  toes  are 
equal,  the  second  and  fifth  shorter  and  nearly  equal,  and  the  first  very 
short.      There  are  callosities  on  the  toes  resembling  in  miniature  thoso 
on  the  toes  of  the  Bay  lynx.  _  The  feet  and  palms  are  covered  with  hair 
even  to  the  extremity  of  the  nails ;  taiF,  round,  and  thick  at  the  roots, 
tapering  gradually  to  the  end ;  the  longer  hairs  of  the  tail  are  inclined 
to  stand  out  horizontally,  giving  it  a  bushy  appearance.     There  are  two 
brown-coloured  glands  situated  on  each  side  of  the  under  surface  of  the 
fail,  which  have  a  small   cavity  lined  by  a  thin  white   wrinkled  mem- 
{)rane ;  they  contain  a  strong  musky  fluid,  the  smell  of  which  is  rather 
disagreeable.     Mainina\  six,  ventral. 

The  coat  is  composed  of  two  kinds  of  hair ;  a  very  downy  fur  beneath^ 
with  hairs  of  a  longer  and  stronger  kind  interspersed.  Tlie  hairs  on  the 
Upper  surl'ace  are  longer  I  halt  th«K>e  on  the  lower.     They  are  suioo<h  anJ 


252 


lAINK. 


glossy  both  on    the   bodj-   and   the   tail,  and  to   a   considerable   extent 
conceal  the  downy  fur  beneath. 

COLOUR. 

Under  fur,  light  brownish-yellow ;  the  longer  hairs,  and  the  surface  of 
the  fur,  are  of  a  uniform  brown  or  tawny  colour,  except  the  ears,  which 
are  a  little  lighter,  and  the  sides  of  the  face,  under  surface,  tail,  and  poste- 
rior part  of  the  back,  which  are  a  little  darker  than  the  general  tint,  lower 
jaw  white.  In  most  specimens  there  is  a  white  spot  under  the  throat,  and 
in  all  that  we  hav(!  seen,  a  longitudinal  white  stripe  on  the  breast  between 
the  fore-legs,  much  wider  in  some  specimens  than  in  others ;  tail,  darkest 
toward  the  end ;  for  an  inch  or  two  from  the  tip  it  is  often  very  dark- 
brown  or  black. 

There  arc  some  striking  and  permanent  varieties  of  the  Mink,  both  in 
size  and  colour.  We  possess  a  specimen  from  Canada,  which  is  consid- 
erably darker  than  those  of  the  United  States.  Its  tail  is  an  inch  longer 
than  usual,  and  the  white  markings  on  iis  throat  and  chest  are  much 
narrowTer  and  less  conspicuous  than  in  most  individuals  of  this  species. 
{n  other  respects  we  can  see  no  difference. 

In  the  Southern  salt-water  marshes  this  species  is  considerably  larger 
ill  size,  the  white  markings  on  the  chin  and  under  surface  are  brvader, 
the  hair  is  much  coarser,  the  colour  lighter,  and  the  tail  less  bushy,  than 
in  Northern  specimens.  Those,  however,  which  we  obtained  on  the  head 
waters  of  the  Edisto  river  are  as  dark  as  specimens  from  Pennsylvania 
and  New- York. 

Along  the  mountain  streams  of  the  Northern  and  Middle  States,  we 
have  often  met  with  another  species  of  Mink  considerably  smaller  and 
darker  than  those  found  on  large  water-courses  or  around  mill-ponds. 
This  species  was  figured  in  the  illustrations  of  our  large  edition,  without 
distinguishing  it  from  the  lower  figure  on  the  plate,  which  represents 
the  common  species.  We  shall  introduce  a  separate  figure  of  it  in  the 
present  work. 

DIMENSIONS. 


Length  of  head  and  body     - 
"  tail  (vertebrae)      -         -         - 

"  tail,  to  end  of  fur 

Another  specimen. 

Length  Iruin  ]>oint  of  uose  to  rout  of  tail 


13  inches, 

7  do. 

8  do. 

14  dc 


M/NK. 


Length  of  tail  (vertebrae)     - 
tail,  to  end  of  Lair 


853 


7i  inches. 
8      do. 


Dimensions  of  the  small  species,  (specimen  from  the  Catskill  mountains) 

Length  ofhead  and  body ^    j^^^^^^ 

"  tail  (vertebra}) G      do 

tail,  to  end  of  hair       -        .        .        .  7      do 

HABITS. 

Next  to  the  ermine,  the  Mink  is  the  most  active  and  destructive  little 
depredator  that  prowls  around  the  farm-yard,  or  the  faim-^r's  duck-pond  • 
where  the  presence  of  one  or  two  of  these  animals  will  soon  be  made 
known  by  the  sudden  disappearance  of  sundry  young  ducks  and  chickens 
The  vigilant  farmer  may  perhaps  see  a  fine  fowl  moving  in  a  singular 
and  most  involuntary  manner,  in  the  clutches  of  a  Mink,  towards  a  fis- 
sure  in  a  rock  or  a  hole  in  some  pile  of  stones,  in  the  gray  of  the  morn- 
mg,  and  should  he  rush  to  the  spot  to  ascertain  the  fate  of  the  unfortunate 
bird,  he  will  see  it  suddenly  twitched  into  a  hole  too  deep  for  him  to 
fathom,  and  wish  he  had  carried  with  him  his  double-barrelled  gun,  to 
have  ended  at  once  the  life  of  the  voracious  destroyer  of  his  carefully 
tended   poultry.      Our  friend,  the  farmer,  is  not,   however,   disposed  to 
«llow  the  Mink  to  carry  on  the  sport  long,  and  therefore  straightway 
repairs  to  the  house  for  his  gun,  and  if  it  be  loaded  and  ready  for  use,  (as 
it  always  should  be  in  every  well-regulated  farm-house,)  he  speedily  re- 
turns with  it  to  watch  for  the  re-appearance  of  the  Mink  and  slioot  him 
ere  he  has  the  opportunity  to  depopulate  his  poultry-yard.     The  farmer 
now  takes  a  stand  facing  the  retreat  into  which  the  Mink  has  carried  his 
property,  and  waits  patiently  until  it  may  please  him  to  show  his  head 
again.     This,  however,  the  cunning  rogue  will  not  always  accommodate 
hmi  by  doing,  and  he  may  lose  much  time  to  no  purpose.     Let  us  intro- 
duce  you  to  a  scene  on  our  own  little  place  near  New- York. 

There  is  a  small  brook,  fed  by  several  springs  of  pure  water,  which 
we  have  caused  to  be  stopped  by  a  stone  dam  to  make  a  pond  for  ducks 
in  the  summer  and  ice  in  the  winter  ;  above  the  pond  is  a  rough  bank  of 
stones  through  which  the  water  filters  into  the  pond.  There  is  a  little 
space  near  this  where  tlie  sand  and  gravel  have  formed  a  diminutive 
beach.  The  ducks  desceiuling  to  the  water  are  compelled  to  pass  near 
this  slony  bank.  H.mv  ,,  Mink  had  fixe.l  his  quarters  with  certainly  a 
degree  of  .judgment  and  audacity  worlliy  of  high  praise,  for  no  settle- 
ment could  promise  to  be  more  (o  his  mind.  At  early  dawn  the  crowing 
of  several  line  cocks,  th,    cackling  ..f  many  hens  and  chickens,  and  tlu 


254 


MINK. 


paddling:,   splashing,  a  d  quacking  of  a  hundred  old  and  young  ducks 
would  please  his  ears ;  and  by  stealing  to  the  edge  of  the  bank  of  stones, 
with  his    body  nearly  concealed  between  two    large  pieces  of  broken 
granite,  he  could  look  around  and  see  the  unsuspecting  ducks  within  a 
yard  or  two  of  his  lurking  place.     When  thus  on  the  look-out,  dodging 
his  head  backward  and    forward  he   waits  until  one  of  them  has  ap- 
proached close  to  lain,  and  then  with  a  rush  seizes  the  bird  by  the  neck, 
and  in  a  moment  disappears  with  it  between  the  rocks.     He  has  not, 
however,    escaped    unobserved,    and  like    other    rogues    deserves   to   be 
punished  for  having  taken  what  did  not  belong  to  him.     We  draw  near 
the  spot,  gun  in  hand,  and  after  waiting  some  time  in  vain  for  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  Mink,  we  cause  some  young  ducks  to  be  gently  driven 
down  to  the   pond — diving   lor   worms  or  food  of  various   kinds   while 
danger  so  imminent  is  near  to  them — intent  only  on  the  object  they  are 
pursuing,  they  turn  not  a  glance  toward  the  dark  crevice  where  we  can 
now  see  the  bright  eyes  of  the  Mink  as  he  lies  concealed.     The  unsus- 
pecting birds  remind  us  of  some  of  the  young  folks  in  that  large  pond  we 
call  the  world,  where,  alas  !  they  may  be  in  greater  danger  than  our  poor 
ducks  or  chickens.     Now  we  see  a  fine  hen  descend  to  the  water ;  cau- 
tiously she  steps  on  the  sandy  margin  and  dipping  her  bill  in  the  clear 
stream,  sips  a  few  drops  and  raises  her  head  as  if  ingratitude  to  the 
Giver  of  all  good;  she  continues  sipping  and  advancing  gradually;  she 
has  now  a])proached  the  fatal  rocks,  when  with  a  sudden  rush  the  Mink 
has  seized  her ;  ere  he  can   regain  his  hole,  however,  our  gun's  sharp 
crack  is  heard  and  the  marauder  lies  dead  before  us. 

We  acknowledge  that  we  have  little  inclination  lo  say  anything  in 
defence  of  the  Mink.  We  must  admit,  however,  that  although  he  is  a 
cunning  and  destructive  rogue,  his  next  door  neighbour,  the  ermine  or 
common  weasel,  goes  infinitely  beyond  him  in  his  mischievous  propensi- 
ties. Whilst  the  Mink  is  satisfied  with  destroying  one  or  two  fowls  at  a 
time,  on  which  he  makes  a  hearty  meal ;  the  weasel,  in  the  very  spirit 
of  wanton  destructiveness,  sometimes  in  a  single  night  puts  to  death 
every  tenant  of  the  poultry-house  ! 

When  residing  at  Henderson,  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  river,  we  ob- 
served that  Minks  were  quite  abundant,  and  often  saw  them  carrying  off 
rats  which  they  caught  like  the  weasel  or  ferret,  and  conveyed  away  in 
their  mouths,  holding  them  by  the  neck  in  the  manner  of  a  eat. 

Along  the-trout  streams  of  our  Easttn-n  and  Northern  States,  the  Mink 
has  been  known  to  steal  fish  that,  having  been  caught  by  some  anglet, 
had  been  left  tied  together  vrith  a  string  wliile  the  fisherman  proceeded 
further  in  quest  of  more,      A  person  informed  u.-  that  he   had  lost  in  ihi- 


MINK. 


S55 


^ay  thirty  or  lorty  fine  trout,  which  a  Mink  dragged  off  the  bank  into 
the  stream  and  devoured,  and  we  have  been  told  that  by  looking  care- 
fully  after  them,  the  Minks  could  be  seen  watching  the  fisherman  and  in 
readiness  to  take  his  fih.i,  should  ne  leave  it  at  any  distance  behind  him. 
Mr.  HuTsoN  of  Halifax  informed  iis  that  he  had  a  salmon  weighing  four 
pounds  carried  off'  by  one  of  them. 

Wc  have  ol)served  that  the  Mink  is  a  tolerably  expert  fisher.  On  one 
occasion,  whilst  seated  near  a  trout-brook  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
State  of  New- York,  we  heard  a  sudden  splashing  in  the  stream  and  saw 
a  large  trout  gliding  through  the  shallow  water  and  making  for  some 
long  overhanging  roots  on  the  side  of  the  bank.  A  Mink  was  in  close 
pursuit,  and  dived  after  it ;  in  a  moment  afterwards  it  re-appeared  with 
the  fish  in  its  mouth.  By  a  sudden  rush  we  induced  it  to  drop  the  trout, 
which  was  upwards  of  a  foot  in  length. 

We  are  disposed  to  believe,  however,  that  fishes  are  not  the  principal 
food  on  which  the  Mink  subsists.  We  have  sometimes  seen  it  feeding 
on  frogs  and  cray-fish.  In  the  Northern  States  we  have  often  observed 
it  with  a  Wilson's  meadow-mouse  in  its  mouth,  and  in  Carolina  the  very 
common  cotton-rat  furnishes  no  small  proportion  of  its  food.  We 
have  frequently  remarked  it  coursing  along  the  edges  of  the  marshes, 
and  found  that  it  was  in  search  of  this  rat,  which  frequents  such  locali- 
ties,  and  we  discovered  that  it  was  not  an  unsuccessful  mouser.  We 
once  saw  a  Mink  issuing  from  a  hole  in  the  earth,  dragging  by  the 
neck  a  large  Florida  rat. 

This  species  has  a  good  nose,  and  is  able  to  pursue  its  prey  like  a 
hound  following  a  deer.  A  friend  of  ours  informed  us  that  once  while 
standing  on  the  border  of  a  swamp  near  the  Ashley  river,  he  perceived  a 
marsh-hare  dashing  by  him ;  a  moment  after  came  a  Mink  with  its  nose 
near  the  ground,  following  the  frightened  animal,  apparently  by  the 
scent,  through  the  marsh. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  a  hen-house  was  one 
season  robbed  several  nights  in  succession,  the  owner  counting  a  chicken 
less  every  morning.  No  idea  could  be  formed,  however,  of  the  manner 
in  which  it  was  carried  off".  The  building  was  erected  on  posts,  and  was 
securely  locked,  in  addition  to  which  precaution  a  very  vigilant  watch- 
dog was  now  put  on  guard,  being  chained  underneath  the  chicken-house. 
Still,  the  number  of  fowls  in  it  diminished  nightly,  and  one  was  as  before 
missed  every  morning. 

We  were  at  last  requested  to  endeavour  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  the 
vexatious  and  singular  abstraction  of  our  friend's  chickens,  and  on  a 
careiul  examination  we  discovered  a  small  liole  in  a  corner  of  the  build 


256 


MINK. 


injr,  loading  to  a  cnvity  between  the  weather-boardinp  ami  thn  sill.  On 
Rontly  forcing  outward  a  plank,  we  perceived  tlie  brifilW  eyes  of  a  Mink 
peering  at  us  and  sliiniuR  like  a  pair  of  diamonds.  lie  had  Umfi;  hocn 
thus  snugly  ensconced,  and  was  enabled  to  supply  himself  with  a  regular 
feast  without  leaving  the  house,  as  the  hole  opened  toward  the  ins.de  on 
the  floor.  Summary  justice  was  inflicted  of  course  on  the  concealed  rob- 
ber, and  peace  and  security  once  more  were  restored  i.i  the  precincts  of 
the  chicken-yard. 

This  species  is  very  numerous  in  the  salt-marshes  of  the  Southern 
States,  where  it  subsists  principally  on  the  marsh-hen,  {Rnlhis  crepitans,) 
the  sea-side  finch,  (Ammndramns  nKirilhiiiis,)  and  the  sharp-tailed  finch, 
{A.  candacutus,)  which,  during  a  considerable  portion  oftlui  year,  feed 
on  the  minute  shell-fish  and  aquatic  insects  left  on  the  mud  and  oyster- 
banks,  on  the  subsiding  of  the  waters.  We  have  seen  a  Mink  winding 
stealthily  through  the  tall  marsh-grass,  pausing  occasionally  to  take  an 
observation,  and  sometimes  'ying  tor  the  space  of  a  minute  flat  upon  the 
mud :  at  length  it  draws  its  hind-feet  far  forwards  under  its  body  in  the 
manner  of  a  cat,  its  back  is  arched,  its  tail  curled,  and  it  makes  a  sudden 
spring.  The  screams  of  a  captured  marsh-hen  succeed,  and  its  up- 
raised fluttering  wing  gives  sufficient  evidence  that  it  is  about  to  be 
transferred  from  its  pleasant  haunts  in  the  marshes  to  the  capacious  maw 
of  tne  hungry  Mink. 

It  is  at  low  tide  that  this  animal  usually  captures  the  marsh-hen.  "We 
have  often  at  high  spring  tide  observed  a  dozen  of  those  birds  standing 
on  a  small  field  of  floating  sticks  and  matted  grasses,  gazing  stupiUy  at 
a  Mink  seated  not  five  feet  from  them.  No  attempt  was  made  by  the 
latter  to  capture  the  birds  that  were  now  within  his  reach.  At  first  we 
supposed  that  he  might  have  already  been  satiated  with  food  and  was 
disposed  to  leave  the  tempting  marsh-hens  till  his  appetite  called  for 
more ;  but  wc  were  after  more  mature  reflection  inclined  to  think  that  the 
high  spring  tides  which  occur,  exposing  the  whole  marsh  to  view  and 
leaving  no  place  of  concealment,  frighten  the  Mink  as  well  as  the  marsh- 
hen  ;  and  as  misery  sometimes  makes  us  familiar  with  strange  associates, 
so  the  Mink  and  the  marsh-hen,  like  neighbour  and  brother,  hold  on  to 
their  little  floating  islands  till  the  waters  subside,  when  each  again 
follows  the  instincts  of  nature.  An  instance  of  a  similar  effect  of  fear  on 
other  animals  was  related  to  us  by  an  old  resident  of  Carolina :  Some  forty 
years  ago,  during  a  tremendous  flood  in  the  Santee  river,  he  saw  two  or 
three  deer  on  a  small  mound  not  twenty  feet  in  diameter,  surrounded  by 
a  wide  sea  of  waters,  with  a  cougar  seated  in  the  midst  of  them ;  both 
parties,  having  seemingly  entered  into  a  truce  at  a  time  when  their  lives 


MINK. 


257 


spomed  equally  in  ,je.,par(ly,  were  apparently  disposed  peaceably  to  awail 
the  tailing'  of  the  waln-s  that  surromided  them. 

T\w  Minks  which  n-sort  to  the  Southern  marshes,  being  there  furnished 
Nvith  an  abundant  supply  of  food,  are  always  fat,  and  appear  to  us  eon- 
siderably  Iarif(,r  than  the  same  speeies  in  those  localities  where  food  is 
less  a])undarit. 

This  species  prefers  takin-  up  its  residence  on  (he  bor.lers  of  ponds 
and  along  tin.  banks  of  small  streams,  rather  than  along  large  and  broad 
livers.      It   delights   in    frequenting   the  foot   of  rapids   and   waterfalh 
When   pursued  it  (lies   for  shelter  to  the  water,  an  element  suited  to  its 
amplubious  habits,  or  to  some  retreat  beneath  the  banks  of  the  stream 
It  runs  tolerably  well  on  high  ground,  and  we  have  f.,und  if  on  several 
occasions  no  eiisy  matter  to  overtake  it,  and  when  overtaken,  we  have 
learned  to  our  cost  that  it  was  rather  a  troublesome  customer  about  our 
feet  and  legs,  where  its  sharp  canine  teeth  made  some  uncomfortable  in- 
dentations ;  neither  was  its  odour  as  pleasant  as  we  could  have  desired. 
It  is  generally  supposed  that  the   Mink  never  resorts  to  a  tree  to  avoid 
pursuit ;  we  have,  however,  witnessed  one  instance  to  the  contrary.     In 
hunting  for  the  ru (fed-grouse,  (T.  umhdlus,)  we  observed  a  little  dog  that 
accompanied  us,  barking  at  the  stem  of  a  young  tree,  and  on  looking  up, 
perceived  a  Mink  seated  in  the   first  fork,  about  twelve   feet  from  the 
ground.     Our  friend,  the  late  Dr.  Wright,  of  Troy,  informed  us  that  whilst 
ho  was  walking  on  the  border  of  a  wood,  near  a  stream,  a  small  animal 
w,.    .1  he  supposed  to  be  a  black  squirrel,  rushed  from  a  tuft  of  grass, 
and  ascended  a  tree       AfVer  gaining  a  seat  on  a  projecting  branch,  it 
peeped  down  at  the  intruder  on  its  haunts,  when  he  shot  it,  and  picking 
it  up,  ascertained  that  it  was  a  Mink. 

We  think,  howevei,  that  this  animal  is  not  often  seen  to  ascend  a 
tree,  and  these  are  the  only  instances  of  its  doing  so  which  are  known 
.0  us. 

This  species  is  a  good  swimmer,  and  like  the  musk-rat  dives  at  the 
flash  of  a  gun  ;  we  have  observed,  however,  that  the  percussion-cap  now 
in  general  use  is  too  quick  for  its  motions,  and  that  this  invention  bids 
fair  greatly  to  lessen  its  numbers.  When  shot  in  the  water,  the  body  of 
the  Mink,  as  well  as  that  of  the  otter,  has  so  little  buoyancy,  and  its  bones 
are  so  heavy,  that  it  almost  invariably  sinks. 

The  Mink,  like  the  musk-rat  and  ermine,  does  not  possess  much  cun- 
ning, and  is  easily  captured  in  any  kind  of  trap  ;  it  is  taken  in  steel-traps 
and  box-traps,  but  more  generally  in  what  are  called  Jead-falls.  It  is  at- 
tracted by  any  kind  of  fl»sh,  but  we  have  usually  seen  the  traps  baited 
with   the   head  of  a  ruffed-grouse,   wild   duck,  chicken,  jay,  or  other 


an 


258 


MINK 


1i 


bird  Tho  Mink  is  cxrordinuly  trnn<  foils  of  Hfo,  and  wp  hav<>  found  "t 
still  alive  iindiT  !i  dfad-ffiil,  with  a  pole  iyinij  across  its  body  pn'sscd 
down  by  a  weight  of  ir»()  il»s.,  beneath  whieh  it  had  been  strii>?(,'linf?  foi 
nearly  twenty-four  hours. 

This  speeies,  as  well  as  the  skunk  and  the  ermine,  emits  an  ofTensivo 
odour  when  i)rovoked  by  men  or  doy;s,  and  this  habit  is  exercised  like- 
wise in  a  moderate  (iey;ree  wheni'ver  it  is  enyapjd  in  any  severe  struRKle 
with  an  animal  or  bird  on  which  it  has  seized.  We  were  once  attracted 
by  the  peculiar  and  W('ll  known  plaintive  cry  of  a  hare,  in  a  marsh  on 
the  side  <»f  one  of  our  southern  riee-lields,  and  our  olfactories  were  at  the 
same  time  refilled  with  the  stronjjr  fetid  odour  of  the  Mink;  we  found  it 
in  j)ossession  of  a  large  marsh-hare,  with  which,  from  the  appearance  of 
the  trampled  grass  and  mud,  it  had  been  engaged  in  a  fierce  struggle  for 
some  time. 

The  latter  end  of  February  or  the  beginning  of  March,  in  tho  latitude 
of  All)any,  N.  Y.,  is  the  rutting  season  of  the  Mink.  At  this  period  the 
ground  is  usually  still  covered  with  snow,  but  the  male  is  notwithstanding 
very  restless,  and  his  tracks -may  every  where  be  traced,  along  ponds, 
among  tho  slabs  around  saw-mills,  and  along  nearly  every  stream  of 
wat(T.  Ih'  seemf.  to  keep  on  foot  all  day  as  well  as  through  the  whole 
niglit.  Having  for  several  days  in  succession  observed  a  number  of 
Minks  on  the  ice  hurrying  up  and  down  a  mill-pond,  where  we  had  not 
observed  any  during  a  whole  winter,  we  took  a  position  near  a  place 
whieh  we  had  seen  them  pass,  in  order  to  procure  some  of  them. 

We  shot  six  in  the  course  of  the  morning,  an<l  ascertained  that  they 
were  all  large  and  old  males.  As  we  did  not  find  a  single  female  in  a 
week,  whilst  we  obtained  a  great  number  of  males,  we  came  to  the  con- 
clusion that  the  females,  during  this  periotl,  remain  in  their  burrows. 
About  the  latter  end  of  April  the  young  are  produced.  We  saw  six  young 
dug  from  a  hole  in  the  l)ank  of  a  Carolina  rice-lic-ld  ;  on  another  occa- 
sion we  found  five  enclosed  in  a  large  nest  situated  on  a  small  island  in 
the  marshes  of  Ashley  river.  In  the  State  of  New- York,  we  saw  five 
taken  from  a  hollow  log,  and  we  are  inclined  to  set  down  that  as  the 
average  number  of  young  tliis  species  firings  forth  at  a  time. 

The  Mink,  when  taken  young,  becomes  very  gentle,  and  forms  a  strong 
attachment  to  those  who  fondle  it  in  a  state  of  domestication.  Richard- 
son saw  one  in  the  "  possession  of  a  Canadian  woman,  that  passed  tho 
day  in  lier  pocket,  looking  out  occasionally  wlien  its  attention  was  roused 
by  any  unusual  noise."  We  liad  in  our  possession  a  i>et  of  this  kind  for 
eighteen  months ;  it  regularly  made  a  visit  to  an  a(')oming  fish-pond  both 
morning  and  eveninr',  and  returned  to  the  house  of  its  own  accord,  whera 


I 


MINK.  Qljg 

it  cnntinuful  diirinj?  tho  rcmairsdrr  of  tho  day.  It  watfcd  war  apaiiist  tlie 
Nor.vay  rats  which  had  their  domi.ule  in  thp  (him  that  formpd  fh(!  (ish 
pond,  and  it  caupht  tho  froKs  which  had  taken  possession  of  its  hank.s 
We  did  not  perceive  that  it  captured  many  fish,  and  it  never  attacked 
the  poultry.  It  was  on  yood  terms  with  the  do<,'s  and  cats,  and  molested 
no  one  unless  if  ail  or  foot  was  accidentally  trod  upon,  when  it  invaria- 
bly revenped  itself  by  snapping  at  the  foot  of  the  offender. 

It  was  rather  dull  at  mid-day,  but  very  active  and  playful  in  the  morn- 
ing and  evenin«  and  at  ni^ht.  It  never  emitted  its  disagreeable  odour 
except  when  it  haxl  received  a  sudden  an<l  severe  hurt.  It  was  fond  of 
squattin«  in  the  chimney-corner,  and  formed  a  particular  attachment  to 
an  arm-chnir  in  our  study. 

The  skins  of  the  Mink  were  formerly  an  article  of  commerce,  and  were 
used  for  makint?  muffs,  tippets,  &c.  ;  they  .sold  for  about  fifty  cents  each. 
IlicnARDsoN  sti.tes  that  they  at  present  are  only  taken  by  the  traders  oi 
the  i'ur  company  to  accommodate  the  Indians,  and  that  they  are  afterwards 
burnt,  as  they  will  not  repay  the  expense  of  carriage.  The  fur,  however 
although  short,  is  even  finer  than  that  of  the  marten. 

A  short  lime  since,  wc  were  kindly  presented  by  C.-ARLEa  P.  Ciioutrao 
Esq.,  with  a  Mink  skin  ol  a  beautiftd  silver-gray  colour,  the  fur  of  which 
is  (piite  (lid'erenl  from  t|)(!  ordinary  coat  of  the  animal.  These  beautiful 
skins  are  i  xeeedingly  rare,  and  six  of  them,  when  they  are  united,  will 
mak»!  a  muff,  worth  at  least  a  hundred  dollars,  A  skin,  slightly  approach- 
ing III.'  fine  quality  and  colour  of  the  one  just  mentioned,  exists  in  tho 
Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  at  Philadelphia,  but  it  is  brownish,  and  the 
fur  is  not  very  good, 

OEOORAPHICAL    DISTRIBUTION. 

The  Mink  is  a  constant  resident  of  nearly  every  part  of  the  continent 
of  North  America.  Richardson  saw  it  as  far  north  as  latitude  06°,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Mackenzie  river,  and  supposed  that  it  ranged  to  the  mouth 
of  that  river  in  latitude  (>!)° ;  it  exists  in  Canada,  and  we  have  seen  it  in 
every  State  of  the  Union.  We  observed  it  ou  the  Upper  Missouri  and  on 
the  Yellow  Stone  rl*er;  it  is  said  to  exist  also  to  the  West  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains  and  al'ng  the  shores  of  tlie  Pacific  ocean, 

(iENERAI.    remarks. 


This  species  appears,  as  far  as  wo  have  been  able  to  ascertain,  to  have 
been  first  noticed  by  Governor  Smith  of  Virginia,  ir  1024,  and  subsequently 
by  Sacakd  Theodai   and   La  Montan      Tho  latter  calls  it  an  amphibious 


260 


MINK. 


'  I 


sort  of  little  pole.cat,-"Les  fouteriaux,  qui  sent  de  petites  fomnes  am 
nhibies."     Kalm  and  Lawson  refer  to  it:  the  former  stating  that    he 
English  and  the  Swedes  gave  it  the  name  of  Mink,  Moenk  bemg  the 
name  applied  to  a  closely  ollied  species  existing  m  Sv  eden 

The  doubts  respecting  the  identity  of  the  American  Mmk  (P.  vrson, 
and  the  Mustela  lutreola  of  the  north  of  Europe,  have  not  as  yet  been 
satisfactorily  solved.     Peasant  in  one  place  admits  the  American  ..«« 
as  a  true  species,  and  in  another  supposes  the  M.  lutreola  to  exist  on  both 
continents.     Baron  Cuv.kk  at  one  time  regarded  them  as  so  distinct  that 
he  placed  them  under  different  genera;  but  subsequently  in  a  note  stated 
his  opinion  that  they  are  both  one  species.     Dr.  Godman  supposed  that 
both  the  Pekan  {Mustcla  Canadensis)  and  vison  (P.  vison)  are  nothing 
more  than  mere  varieties  o( Mustela  lutreola;  in  regard  to  the  Pekan 
he  was  palpably  in  error.     Richardson  considers  them  distinct  species, 
althou-h  he  does  not  seem  to  have  had  an  opportunity  of  instituting 
a  comparison.     We  have  on  two  or  three  occasions  compared  speci- 
mens from  both  continents.     The  specimens,  however,  from  ^f^Y^""']- 
try  differ  so  considerably  among  themselves,  that  it  is  sovnewhat  difficult 
without  a  larger  number  than  can  generally  be  brought  together,  to  in- 
stitute a  satisfactory  comparison. 

The  fact  that  both  species  exist  far  to  the  iK.rtbward,  and  conse- 
.mentlv  approach  each  other  toward  the  Arctic  circlr,  presents  an  argu- 
ment favourable  to  their  identity.  In  their  semi-palmatcd  feet,  as  well 
as  in  their  general  form  and  habits,  they  resemble  each  other. 

The  following  reasons,  however,  have  induced  us,  after  some  hesita- 
tion and  not  without  a  strong  lesire  for  farther  opportunities  of  compari- 
son,' especially  of  the  skulls,  to  regard  the  American  P.  vison  as  distinct 
from  the  lutreola  of  the  north  of  Europe. 

P  lutreola,  in  the  few  specimens  we  have  examined,  is  smaller  than  F. 
vison  the  body  of  the  latter  frequently  exceeding  eighteen  inches  (we 
have'a  large  specimen  that  measures  twenty-one  inches,)  but  we  have 
never  found  any  specimen  of  the  lutreola  exceeding  thirteen  inches  from 
nose  to  root  of  tail,  and  have  generally  found  that  specimens,  even  when 
their  teeth  were  considerably  worn,  thereby  indicating  that  the  animals 
were  adults,  measured  less  than  twelve  inches. 

P  lutreola  is  considerably  darker  in  colour,  resembling  in  this  respect 
the  small  black  species  mentioned  by  us  as  existing  along  our  mountain 
streams.  The  tail  is  less  bushy,  and  might  be  frmed  sub-cylindrical. 
P  lutreola  is,  besides,  more  delicient  in  while  inarkin-s  on  the  und.T  sur- 
face  than  the  other  speei,.s  ;  the  .■Im,  is  .MM.endly,  but  not  always,  white ; 
but  thi-ir  is  seldom  any  white  eitlier  o»  -he   hro-t  n-  ehest. 


2()1 


h 


'  .'J 


SCIURUS   NIGER.-LiNN. 

Black  SaurRREL. 

PLATE  XXXIV.-M*LB  and  F«ma«. 

S    corpore  S.   migratorio   long.oro;   vellere   molli   nitidoque.   aunbas 
naso  et  omni  corpons  parte  nigerrimis,  cirris  albis  dispersis. 

CHARACTERS. 

A  liUh  la.-f„  rt„„  He  Norlhcrn  gray  ^,.i„-cl ,  fur.  »«  »„,(  ri„„„  . 

SVNONYMES. 

SciuRus  NiQEK,  Qodman,  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  1.33. 

•|         Hachina.^  Pr„c,.eding,s  Zool.  Society.  1838.  p.  90. 
L»ekay,  Nat,   Hist,   of  New- York,  parti,,  p  60. 

DESCRH'TION. 

Head,  a  litlle  shorter  and  more  arched  than  that  of  the  Northern  .rav 
squtrre,  On  the  latter  ,peeie,,  however,  it  is  often  found  that  «  e„  e 

pie»,l  sron,..,  and  of  a  deep  orange  colour  anieriorlv ;  ears  ellintioal 
and  shBhtly  r„„„ded  a,  the  tip,  thickly  elothod  with  IW  n  hi  r'faee  ' 
he  fur  „„  the  outer  surface  extending  three  lines  hcyond  the  margin 
Z"!  ";<:  '7»ver  no  distinct  tufts,  whiskers,  a  little  l„„g„  ,Z  '  ,' 
hcod,  to,,  long,  „„,  very  distichous,  thickly  clothed  with  mod„ratll! 
coarse  ha,r;  the  fur  i,  softer  than  that  of  the  Northern  gmy  sjrre,.      "^ 

COLOUR. 

The  wiiol.of  ti.e   uppor  and   lower  surfaces,  and  the  fail,  gh.sy  iot 

black;    at  the  roots    the  hah.    are    a    Httle    lighter.       Spe  i,n^'    « 

cured  ,..  sunder  do  not  differ  rnaterially  in  colour  from  tho'e  obt    neS.^ 

w.nter,  except  that  before  the  hairs  drop  out  late  in  spring  they    re  nit 

•so  intensely  biack.     In  all  we   have  had   an   on.K.Huniu      . 

■•nil   ,111   ()[)(K»iinni(v    <it  pxaminujg 


!       ,    !S^ 


'M2 


BLACK  SQUIRREL. 


there  arc  small  tuftb  of  white  hairs  irre^uhirly  disposed  on  the  iindei 
surface,  resembling  those  on  the  body  of  the  mink.  There  are  also  a 
few  scattered  white  hairs  on  the  back  and  tail. 


DIMENSIONS. 

Length  of  head  and  body 

"  tail  (vertobrfc) 

"  tail,  including  fur     - 

Palm,  to  end  of  middle  fore-claw     - 
Length  of  heel  to  the  point  of  middle  claw 

"  fur  on  the  back 

Breadth  of  tail  with  hair  extended 


Inches. 

Lines 

1.3 

0 

U 

1 

13 

0 

1 

7 

2 

7 

0 

7 

."i 

0 

HABITS. 


An  opportunity  was  afforded  us,  many  years  since,  of  obs<>rving  tho 
habits  of  this  species,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State  of  New- York. 
A  seat  under  the  shadow  of  a  rock  near  a  stream  of  water,  was  for 
several  successive  sumnuM's  our  favourite  resort  for  retirement  and  read- 
ing. In  the  imuKHliate  vicinity  were  several  large  trees,  in  which  were  a 
number  ol'  holes,  from  which  at  almost  every  hour  of  the  day  were  seen 
issuing  this  sp(!cies  of  Black  Scpiirrel.  There  seemed  to  be  a  dozen  of 
them ;  they  were  all  of  the  same  glossy  black  colour,  and  although  the 
Northern  gray  siiuirrel  and  its  black  variety  were  not  rare  in  that  neigh- 
bourhood, during  a  period  of  five  or  six  years  we  never  discovered  any 
other  than  the  present  species  in  that  locality  ;  and  after  the  lapse  of 
twenty  years,  a  specimen  (from  which  our  description  was  in  part 
drawn  up)  was  procured  in  that  identical  spot,  and  sent  to  us. 

This  species  possesses  all  iht;  sprightliness  of  the  Northern  gray  squir- 
rel, evidently  preferring  valleys  and  swamps  to  drier  and  more  elevated 
situations.  We  observed  that  one  of  their  favourite  trees,  to  which 
they  retreated  on  hearing  the  slightest  noise,  was  a  large  white-pine 
{FiniLt  strobus)  in  th(!  immediate  vicinity.  We  were  surprised  at  some- 
times seeing  a  red  s(iuirrel,  {Sciurus  Hittboniits,)  which  had  also  given  a 
preference  to  this  tree,  pursuing  a  Black  Squirrel,  threatening  and 
scolding  it  vociftu-ously,  till  the  latter  was  obliged  to  make  its  retreat. 
When  the  S(|uirrels  !ip|)roiH'hed  the  stream,  which  ran  within  a  few  feet  of 
our  seat,  they  often  stopped  to  drink,  when,  instead  of  lapping  the  water 
like  the  dog  itnd  cat.  they  protruded  their  mouths  a  eonsiderablf!  distance 
into  till"  strciim,  and  drank  greedily  ;  llicy  would  afterwards  sit  upright, 
suppurli'il  by  th<'  tarsus,  and   wilii  tail  i  reel,  busy  theinsj'lves  for  u  quar 


I 


BLACK  SQUIRREL. 


263 


terofan  hour  in  wiping  their  faces  with  their  paws,  the  lattei  being  also 
occasionally  dipped  in  the  water.  Their  barking  and  other  habits  did 
not  seem  to  differ  from  those  of  the  northern  gray  squirrel 


ffli 


I 


GEOGRAPHICAL    DISTRIBUTION. 

Many  of  our  specimens  of  the  Black  Squirrel   were  procured  throu-^h 
the  kindness  of  friends,  in  the  counties  of  Rensselaer  and  Queens,  New 
York.     We  have  seen  this  species  on  the  borders  of  Lake  Champlain 
a     Ogdensburg,   and  on  the  eastern  shores    of  Lake  Erie  ;    also   near 
Niagara,  on  the  Canada  side.     The  individual  described  by  Dr.  Richard 
SON,  anu  which  may  be  clearly  referred  to  this  species,  was  obtained  by 
Captain  Bavpield,  at  Fort  William  on  Lake  Superior.     Black  Squirrels 
exist  through  all  our  western   forests,  and  to  the  northward  of  our  c^reat 
lakes ;  but  whether  they  are  of  this  species,  or  the  black  variety  of  the 
gray    squirrel,  we  have    not  had  the  means    of  deciding.     It  is  a  well 
ascertained  fact  that  the  Black  Squirrel  disappears  before  the  xNor.hern 
sny  squirrel.     Whether  the  colour  renders  it  a  more  conspicuous  mark 
for  the  sportsman,  or  whether  the  two  species  are  naturally  hostile    we 
are  unable  to  decide.     It  is  stated  by  close  observers  that  in  some  neigh- 
bourhoods where  the  Black  Squirrel  formerly  abounded,  the  Northern 
gray  squirrel  now  exclusively  occupies  its  place. 

general  remarks. 

We  have  admitted  this  as  a  true  species,  not  so  much  in  accordance 
with  our  own  positive  convictions,  as  in  deference  to  the  opinions  of 
our  naturalists,  and  from  the  consideration  that  if  it  be  no  more  than 
a  variety,  ,t  has  by  time  and  succession  been  rendered  a  permanent  race, 
rhe  only  certain  mode  of  deciding  whether  this  is  a  true  species  or  mere- 
ly a  variety,  would  be  to  ascertain  whether  male  and  female  Black  Squir- 
rels and  gray  squirrels  associate  and  breed  together  in  a  state  of  nature- 
When  a  male  and  a  female,  however  different  in  size  and  colour,  unite 
m  a  wild  state  and  their  progeny  is  prolific,  we  are  warranted  in  pro- 
nouncing  them  of  the  same  species.  When  on  the  contrary,  there  is  no 
such  result,  we  are  compelled  to  come  to  an  opposite  conclusion. 

We  had  great  doubts  for  many  years  whether  this  species  might  not 
eventuMJly  prove  another  of  the  many  varieties  of  the  Northern  gray 
Hquinvl.  (.V.  mi-rroiorius.)  Although  these  doubts  have  not  been  ;x\\o<r^. 
ther  removed  by  our  recent  investigations,  thev  were  considerably  lessened 
on  ascertaining  the  uniformity  in  size,  shape,  colou".  and  habits  of  all  the 


■  i&m 


1  ( 


264 


BLACK   SaUIRlUCL. 


individuals  we  have  seen  in  a  living  state,  as  well  as  all  the  prepared 
specimens  we  have  examined. 

Much  difiiculty  has  existed  among  authors  in  deciding  on  the  species 
to  which  the  name  of  -S.  nigcr  should  he  appropriated.  The  original  de- 
scription hy  LiNN/Eus  was  containr'd  in  the  single  word  "  nigcr"  If  he 
had  made  no  reference  to  any  author,  his  description  would  have  served 
quite  well,  as  this  was  the  only  species  of  squirrel  purely  hlack,  that  was 
known  at  that  day.  He  however  made  a  reference  to  Catesby,  who 
figured  the  black  variety  of  the  Southern  fox-squirrel,  (S.  capistratus,) 
and  Brisson,  Pennant,  Erxleben,  and  Sciireber  referred  the  species  in  the 
same  manner  to  the  description  and  figure  of  Catesbv.  Our  American 
writers  on  natural  history,  as  M'ell  as  Dr.  Richardson,  have  however 
adopted  the  name  given  by  Linn^us,  and  applied  it  to  this  species.  We 
consider  it  advisable  to  retain  the  name,  omitting  the  reference  to 
Catesby. 

It  is  diflicult  to  decide,  from  the  descriptions  of  Drs.  Harlan  and  God- 
man,  whether  they  described  from  specimens  of  the  black  variety  of  the 
northern  gray  squirrel  or  from  the  present  species. 

Dr.  Richardson  has,  under  the  head  of  Sciurus  nigei;  (see  Fauna  Bo- 
reali  Americana,  p.  191,)  described  a  specimen  from  Lake  Superior, 
which  we  conceive  to  be  the  black  variety  of  the  gray  squirrel ;  but  at 
the  close  of  the  same  article  (p.  192)  he  described  another  specimen  from 
Fort  William,  which  answers  to  the  description  of  this  species. 


265 


IliiJI 


SCIURUS    MIGRATORIUS.-A.d.a^oBm>„. 

MiGRATUUV    GUAV    SuUIRREU—NoRTHERN    GrAV    SuUIRREL. 

PLATE  XXXV.-Mal.,  Female,  and  Youno. 

S.   S  Carolinense   robustior,    S  cinereo  minor;  cauda  cornor,.  multo 
loiiffiore  ;  variis  coloribus.  ' 

CirJVRACTERS. 

J^ar^er  //.«„  ,/.e  C«r«/m«  Gray  Sr.uirrel;  smaller  than  the  Cat-sauirrel- 
iml,  muck  longer  than  the  hod,;  subject  to  many  varieties  of  colour 

SYNONYMES, 

Q6AV  Squ.uuel,  Pennant,  Arct.  Zool.,  vol.  i„  p.  195,  Hist.  Quad.    N.,  272 
tc-iuRus  CiNEiiEus,  Ilurlan,  Fauna,  p.  173.  '         "^■ 

Cauolinensis,  Godman,  non  Gmel 

BacL,  Proceedings  of  the  Zoological  Society,  p.  91,  London. 

Common  or  LrnLEGuAv  Squirrel.  Emmons,  Report.  1842   n  66 
Sciuuua  Leucotis,  Deicay,  Nat.  Hist.  N.  Y..  p.  r,1  ^' 

"        VULI'INUS,      do.  do.  do.   '  p.  59, 

DraCRIPTION. 

This  Squirrel  seems  to  have  permanently  twenty-two  teeth.     A  large 

.umber  of  specimens  proeured  at  different  seasons  of  the  year,  some  of 

w  .ch  from  the  manner  in  which  their  teeth  were  worn  appeared"  be 

old  arnmaLs,  presented  the  small  front  molars  in  the  upper  jaw     Even 

mcnts  of  which  wil!  be  g,ven  in  this  article,)  the  small  molar  existed. 
Mas  permanency  in  teeth  that  have  been  usually  regarded  as  deciduous, 
uould  seem  to  requu-e  an  enlargement  of  the  characters  given  to  this 

•  ETn'ti"  I  rr^' ''  "^"  ^'=^*  ''''''^'  ^'^^'  «p^-«  -  «-"-^ 

this  in  their  dental  arrangement. 

Inci.sor.s,   strong  and   comprnsse.l.   a  little   smaller   than    those  of  the 
t.at-squirrel,  convex,  and  oIm  d.-ej,  orange  colour  anteriorly.     The  uppei 

34 


•J()6 


NORTllKRN  GHiY  SQUlllkEL. 


ones  liavo  a  sharp  cittinf?  f'lRf^,  nm\  am  chisd-sliaprd  ;  the  lower  are 
much  h»n;rer  and  tliimier.  The  anterior  f^rinder,  ahlioiiyrh  round  and 
small,  is  as  lonj;  as  liie  second ;  the  remainin*?  lour  ^^rinders  are  consider- 
ably more  excaA'ated  than  those,  of  the  Cat-s(juirrel,  presenting  two  trans- 
verse rijlj^es  of  enamel.  The  lower  grinders  correspondin^ij'  to  those  a'jove 
have  also  elevated  crowns. 

The  hair  is  a  little  softer  than  that  of  the  Cat.-s()uirrol,  bein^  coarsest 
on  the  Ibrehejid. 

Nose,  ratlicr  obtuse;  forehead,  arched;  whis  -  •  : ^  long  as  the  head  ; 
ears,  sharply  rounded,  conwivc  on  both  sides,  covered  with  hair;  on  the 
outside  the  h.-iirs  are  lenjrest.  In  winter  the  fur  projects  upward  about 
three  lines  bejond  the  margin ;  in  sununer,  however,  tin- hairs  covering 
the  ears  are  very  short,  and  do  not  extend  beyond  the  margin. 


!■    I 

:        II 

■  I 


I  I 


COLOUR. 

This  species  appears  under  many  varieties;  there  are,  however,  two 
very  permanent  ones,  which  we  shall  attempt  to  describe. 

1st,  Gray  variety. — The  nose,  cheeks,  a  space  around  the  eyes  extend- 
ing to  the  insertion  of  the  neck,  the  upper  surface  of  the  fore  and  hind 
feet,  and  a  stripe  along  the  sides,  yellowish-brown  ;  the  ears  on  theu 
posterior  surface  in  most  sj)ecimens   brownish-yellow ;   in  about  one 

in  ten  they  are  dull  white,  edged  with  brown.  On  the  back,  from  the 
shoulders  there  is  an  obscure  stripe  of  brown,  brojidest  at  its  commence- 
ment, running  (h)wn  to  a  |)()int  at  the  insertion  of  the  tail.  In  some 
specimens  this  stri|)e  is  wanting.  On  the  neck,  sides,  and  liijjs.  the  colour 
is  light  gray;  the  hairs  separately  are  for  one  half  their  length  dark 
cinereous,  then  light  umber,  then  a  narrow  mark  of  black,  Jind  are  lipped 
with  while;  a  considerable  number  of  black  hairs  are  interspersed, 
giving  it  a  yellowish-brown  colour  on  the  dorsal  aspect,  and  a  light  gray 
tint  on  the  sides;  the  hairs  in  the  tail  are  light  yellowish-brown  fro-.n 
the  roots,  with  three  stripes  of  black,  llie  outer  one  being  widest,  and 
broadly  tipped  with  white ;  tlie  whole  under  surface  is  white.  The  above 
is  the  most  common  variety. 

There  are  specimens  in  which  the  yellowish  markings  on  the  sides 
and  feet  are  altogether  wauling.  Dr.  G<ii)Man,  (vol.  ii..  j).  133.)  supposed 
that  the  golden  colour  of  the  hind-l'eet  is  a  very  permanent  mark.  The 
specimens  from  I'eimsylvania  in  our  possession,  and  a  few  from  the 
Lfl)per  Missouri,  have  generally  this  peculiarity,  but  many  of  those  from 
New-York  iind  New-England  have  gray  feet,  without  the  slightest  mix- 
ture of  yellow. 

vJd,   Dlack   variety. — 'J'liis   we  have  on  several    occasions   seen    takea 


NORTHERN  GRAY  SQUIRREL.  j,^^ 

With  tho  Rray  variety  from  the  same  nest.     Both  varieties  breed  and  rear 
thoir  yoiuif,'  together. 

'nH,l.h.ek  om-s  are  of  the  same  size  and  form  as  the  f,ray  ;  they  are 
dark  brown.sh-hlaek  on  the  whole  „,,,„.,•  snrfaee,  a  little  lighter  be- 
neath.  In  summer  their  eolour  is  less  blaek  than  in  winter.  The  hairn 
of  the  back  and  si.les  of  the  body,  and  of  the  tail,  are  obscurely  annulafed 
w.th  y,.l  ovv.  There  is  here  and  there  a  white  hair  interspersed  among 
the  fur  of  the  body,  but  no  tuft  of  white  as  in  Sciuru.s  rJger. 

DIMENSIONS. 

A  Female  i<n  summer. 

Length  of  head  and  body 

"  tail  (vertebr.-e) 

tail,  to  thfc  tip 

Height  of  ear 

Palm  to  the  end  ol  middle  claw 
Ileel  to  the  end  of  middle  nail      .... 
Length  of  fur  on  the  back  .... 

Breadth  of  tail  with  hairs  extended 


An  old  Male  in  winter  pelage,  obtained  Dec.  16th. 

Length  of  head  and  body     .... 

tail  (vertebra;)      -         -        .         . 

tail,  to  end  of  hair         ... 

Height  of  ear 

ear,  to  end  cf  fur  ... 

Heel  to  end  of  longest  nail 
f-ength  of  fur  on  the  back 

Weight  1  lb.  tJ  oz. 


Inches. 

Lines. 

11 

9 

10 

0 

13 

0 

0 

7 

1 

10 

2 

0 

0 

5 

4 

2 

12 

6 

11 

0 

14 

0 

0 

7 

0 

0 

2 

0 

0 

8 

HABITS. 


.  This  aipears  to  be  the  most  active  and  sprightly  species  of  Squirrel 
existing  in  our  Atlantic  States.  It  sallies  forth  with  the  sun,  and  is 
.ndusfriously  engaged  in  search  of  food  for  four  or  five  hours  in  the 
morning,  scratching  among  leaves,  running  over  fallen  logs,  ascending 
trees,  or  playfully  skipping  from  bough  to  bough,  often  making  almost 
mcredible  leaps  from  the  high.-r  branches  of  one  tree  to  another.  In  the 
middle  of  the  day  it  retires  for  a  few  hours  to  its  nest,  resuming  its  active 
labours  and  amusements  in  the  aOernoon,  and  continuing  them  without 
intermission  till  long  after  the  setting  of  the  sun      During  the  warm 


2G8 


NORTHKRN  GKAY  SQUIRREL. 


weather  of  sprin>r  and  summer  it  prepares  itself  a  nest  on  a  ti  3e,  but  not 
often  at  its  summit.  When  construclinjr  this  summer-house  it  does  not 
descend  to  the  earth  in  search  of  mrterials,  finding  them  ready  at  hand 
on  the  tree  it  intends  to  make  its  temporary  residence.  It  first  breaks  off 
some  dry  sticks,  if  they  ciin  he  procured  ;  if,  however,  such  materials  are 
not  within  reach,  it  gnaws  off  green  branches  as  large  as  a  mail's  thumb 
and  lays  them  in  a  fork  of  the  stem,  or  of  some  large  branch.  It  then 
proceeds  to  the  extremities  of  the  branches,  and  breaks  off  twigs  and 
hunches  of  leaves,  with  which  a  compact  nest  is  constructed,  which  on 
the  inner  side  is  sometimes  lined  with  moss  found  on  the  bark  of  the  tree. 
In  the  preparation  of  this  nest  both  male  and  female  are  usually  en- 
paged  for  an  hour  in  the  morning  during  several  successive  days ;  and 
ihe  noise  they  make  in  cutting  the  branches  and  dragging  thJm  with 
their  leaves  to  the  nest  can  be  heard  at  a  great  distance.  In  winter  they 
reside  altogether  in  holes  in  trees,  where  their  young  in  most  instances 
»ue  brought  forth. 

Although  a  family,  to  the  number  of  five  or  six,  probably  the  offspring 
of  a  single  pair  the  preceding  sei  ion,  may  occupy  the  same  nest  during 
^^^inter,  they  all  pair  off  in  spring,  when  each  couple  occupies  a  separate 
aest,  in  order  to  engage  in  the  duties  of  reproduction.  The  young,  in 
lumber  from  four  to  six,  are  brought  forth  .n  May  or  June ; "  they""in. 
crease  in  size  rapidly,  and  are  sufficiently  grown  in  a  few  weeks  to  leave 
the  nest ;  at  this  time  they  may  be  seen  clinging  around  the  tree  which 
contains  their  domicile ;  as  soon  as  alarmed  they  run  into  the  hoh^  but 
one  of  them  usually  returns  to  the  entrance  of  it,  and  protruding  his  head 
out  of  the  hollow,  Avatches  the  movements  of  the  intruder.  In  this  stage 
of  their  growth  they  are  easily  captured  by  stopping  up  the  entrance  of 
the  nest,  and  making  an  opening  beneath ;  they  can  then  be  taken  out 
by  the  hand  proteeied  by  a  glove.  They  soon  become  tolerably  gentle, 
and  are  frequently  kept  in  cages,  with  a  wheel  attached,  which  revolves 
as  they  bound  forward,  in  which  as  if  on  a  treadmill  they  exercise 
themselves  for  hours  together. 

Sometimes  two  are  placed  within  a  wheel,  when  they  soon  learn  to 
accommodate  themselves  to  it,  and  move  together  with  great  regularity. 

?Jotwithstanding  the  fact  that  they  become  very  gentle  in  confinement^ 
no  instance  has  come  to  our  knowledge  of  their  having  produced  young 
while  in  a  state  of  domestication,  although  in  a  suitable  cage  such  a 
result  would  in  all  probability  be  attained.  This  species  is  a  troublesome 
pet ;  it  is  sometimes  inclined  to  close  its  teeth  on  the  fingers  of  the  in- 
truder  on  its  cage,  and  does  not  always  spare  even  its  feeder.  When 
permitted  to  have  the  freedom  of  the  house,  it  soon  excites  the  displea- 


VORTHERN   GRAY  SQUIRREL 


269 


sure  of  the  notable  housewife  by  its  habits  c  f  gnawing  chairs,  tables,  and 

Duriig  the  rutting  season  the  mnles  (like  deer  and  some  other  species) 
engage   m  frequent  contests,  and  often  bite  a.,d   wound  each  other  se 
verely.      The   story  of  the   conqueror   emasculating  the    vanquished  on 
these  occasions,  has  been  so  often  repeated,  that  it  perhaps  is  somewhat 
presumptuous  to  sot  it  down  as  a  vulgar  error.     It  may,  however    be  ad 
vanced,  that  the  admission  of  such   skill  and  refinement  in  inflic'tin-  re 
venge  would  be  ascribing  to  the  squirrel  a  higher  degree  of  physiological 
and    anatomical  knowledge  than  is  possessed  by  any  other  quadruped 
From  the  observations  we  have  been   enabled  to  make,  we  are  led  to 
believe  that  the  error  originated  from   the  fact  that  those  parts  in  the 
male,  which  in  the   rutting  season   are    greatly   enlarged,  are  at  other 
periods  of  the  year  diminished  to  a  very  small  size ;  and  that,  in  young 
males  especially,  they  are  drawn  into  the  pelvis  by  the  contraction  of  the 
muscles.     A  friend,  who  was  a  strenuous  believer  in  this  spiteful  propen- 
sity ascribed  to  the  squirrel,  was  induced  to  test  the  truth  of  the  theory 
by  examining  a  suitable  number  of  squirrels  of  this  species.     He  ob- 
tained  in  a  few  weeks  upwards  of  thirty  males  ;  in  none  of  these  had  any 
mutilation  taken  place.     Two  however  out  of  this  number  were  trium- 
phantly brought  forward  as  evidence  of  the  correctness  of  the  general 
belief     On  examination  it  appeared  that  these  were  young  animals  of 
the  previous  autumn,  with  the  organs  perfect,  but  concealed  in  the  man- 
ner  above  stated. 

It  is  generally  believed  that  this  species  lays  up  a  great  hoard  of  food 
as  a  winter  supply  ;  it  may  however  be  reasonably  doubted  whether  it 
IS  very  provident  in  this  respect.     The  hollow  trees  in  which  these  Squir- 
rels shelter  themselves  in  winter  are  frequently  cut  down,  and  but  a  very 
smsll  supply  of  provisions  has  ever  been  found  in  their  nests      On  fol 
lowing  their  tracks  in  the  snow,  they  cannot  be  traced  to  any  hoards 
buried  in  the  ground.     We  have  sometimes  observed  them  during  a  warm 
day  in  winter  coming  from  great  distances  into  the  op.>n  fields,  in  search 
of  a  few  dry  hickory  nuts  which  were  still  left  suspended  on  the  trees 
If  provisions  had  been  laid  up  nearer  home,  they  would  hardly  have  un- 
dertaken  these  long  journeys,  or  rxi)osed  themselves  to  so  much  dan-er 
in  seekmg  a  precarious  supply.     In  tact,  this  speeies,   in   cold  elimat^es 
seldom  leaves  its  nest  in  winter,  except  on  a  warm  sunny  dav;  and  in  i 
state  of  inactivity  and  partial  torpidity,  it  requires  but  little  food. 

Although  this  Sciuirrel  is  at  particular  seasons  of  the  year  known  to 
search  for  the  krva;  of  different  insects,  which  it  greedily  devours  it  feed, 
principally  on   nuts,  seeds,  and  grain,  which  are   periodically  sought  for 


270 


NORTHERN  GRAY  SQUIRREL. 


by  rill  the  species  of  tin?;  genus ;  among  these  it  seems  to  prefer  the  shell- 
hark,  {Carija  nlfxi,)  and  several  species  of  hickory  nuts,  to  any  other  kind  of 
food.  Even  when  the  nuts  are  so  Rreen  as  to  afford  scarcely  any  nourisli- 
ment,  it  may  be  seen  ffnawing  off  the  thick  pericarp  or  outer  shell, 
which  drops  in  small  particles  to  the  ground  like  rain,  and  then  with  its 
lower  incisors  it  makes  a  small  linear  opening  in  the  thinnest  part  of  tlie 
shell  immediarely  over  the  kernel.  When  this  part  has  been  extracted, 
it  proceeds  to  another,  till  in  an  incredibly  short  space  of  time,  the  nut 
is  cut  longitudinally  on  its  four  sides,  and  the  whole  kernel  picked  out, 
leaving  the  dividing  portions  of  the  hard  shell  untouched. 

At  the  season  of  the  year  when  it  feeds  on  unripe  nuts,  its  paws  and 
egs  are  tinged  by  the  juices  of  the  shells,  which  stain  them  an  ochrey-red 
colour,  that  wears  off,  however,  towards  spring. 

Were  this  species  to  confine  its  depredations  to  the  fruit  of  th;,  hickory, 
chesnut,  beech,  oak  and  maple,  it  would  be  less  obnoxious  to  the  far- 
mer;  but  unfortunately  for  the  peace  of  both,  it  is  fond  of  the  green 
Indian-corn  and  young  wheat,  to  which  the  rightful  owner  imagines  him- 
self  to  have  a  prior  claim.  A  war  of  exte-mination  consequently  ensues, 
and  various  inducements  have  been  held  out  at  different  times  to  tempt 
the  gunner  to  destroy  it.  In  Pennsylvania  an  ancient  law  existed  olTer- 
ing  three  pence  a  head  for  every  squirrel  destroyed,  and  in  one  year  (174G) 
the  sum  of  eight  thousand  pounds  was  paid  out  of  the  treasury  in  pre- 
miums for  the  destruction  of  these  depredators.  This  was  equal  t 
040,000  individuals  killed.  In  several  of  the  Northern  and  Western  States 
the  inhabitants,  on  an  appointed  day,  are  in  the  habit  of  turning  out  on 
what  is  called  a  squirrel  hunt.  They  arrange  themselves  under  opposite 
leaders,  each  party  being  stimulated  by  the  ambition  of  killing  the 
greatest  number,  and  fastening  on  the  other  the  expense  of  a  plentiful 
supper.  The  hunters  range  the  forest  in  every  direction,  and  the  ac 
counts  given  us  of  the  number  of  squirrels  brought  together  at  the 
evening  rendezvous  are  almost  incredible. 

In  addition  to  the  usual  enemies  of  this  species  in  the  Northern  States, 
such  as  the  weasel,  fox,  lynx,&c.,  the  red-tailed  hawk  seems  to  regard  it 
as  his  natural  and  lawful  prey.  It  is  amusing  to  see  the  skill  and  dex- 
terity exercised  by  the  hawk  in  the  attack,  and  by  the  squirrel  in  at- 
tempting to  escape.  When  the  hawk  is  unaccompanied  bv  his  mate,  he 
finds  it  no  easy  matter  to  secure  the  little  animal :  unles  s  the  latter  be 
pounced  upon  whilst  upon  the  ground,  he  is  enabled  by  dodging  and 
twisting  round  a  branch  to  evade  the  attacks  of  the  hawk  for  an  hour 
or  more,  and  frequently  worries  him  into  a  reluctant  retreat. 

But  the  red-tails  learn  by  experience  that  they  are  most  certain  of  this 


NORTHERN  GRAY  SQL'IRREL 


271 


prey  when  hunting  in  couples.  The  male  is  frequently  accompanied  by 
his  mate,  especially  in  the  breeding  season,  and  in  this  case  the  Squirrel 
is  soon  captured.  The  hawks  course  rapidly  in  o|)posite  directions 
above  and  below  the  branch  ;  the  attention  of  the  Squirrel  is  thus  di- 
vided and  distracted,  and  before  he  is  aware  of  it  the  talons  of  one  of 
the  hawks  are  in  his  back,  and  with  a  shriek  of  triumph  the  rapacious 
birds  bear  him  off,  either  to  the  aerie  in  which  their  young  are  deposit- 
«'d,  to  some  low  branch  of  a  tree,  or  to  a  sheltered  situation  on  the 
ground,  where  with  a  suspicious  glance  towards  each  other,  occasionally 
hissing  and  grumbling  for  the  choice  parts,  the  hawks  devour  their  prey. 
This  species  of  squirrel  has  occasionally  excited  the  wonder  of  the  po- 
pulace by  its  wandering  habits  and  its  singular  and  long  migrations. 
Like  the  lemming  {Lemmtis  i\()rrc<ricu.\)  of  the  Eastern  continent,  it  is 
stimulated  either  by  scarcity  of  food,  or  by  some  other  inexplicable 
instinct,  to  leave  its  native  haunts,  and  seek  for  adven'ures  or  for  food  in 
some  (to  it)  unexplored  portion  of  our  land. 

The  newspapers  from  the  West  contain  many  interesting  details  ol 
these  migrations;  they  appear  to  have  been  more  frequent  in  former 
years  than  at  the  present  time.  The  farmers  in  the  Western  wilds  re- 
gard them  with  sensations  which  may  be  compared  to  the  anxious  ap- 
prehensions of  the  Eastern  nations  at  the  flight  of  the  devouring  locust. 
At  such  j)oriods.  which  usually  occur  in  autumn,  the  Squirrels  congregate 
in  (lilferent  districts  of  the  far  North-west;  and  in  irregular  troops  bend 
their  way  instinctively  in  an  eastern  direction.  Mountains,  cleared 
fields,  the  narrow  bays  of  some  of  our  lakes,  or  our  broad  rivers,  present 
no  unconquerable  impediments.  Onward  they  come,  devouring  on  their 
way  every  thing  that  is  suited  to  their  taste,  laying  waste  the  corn 
and  wheat-fields  of  the  farmer  ;  and  as  their  numbers  are  thinned  by  the 
gun,  the  dog,  and  the  club,  others  fall  in  and  fill  up  the  ranks,  till  they  oc- 
casion infinite  mischief,  and  call  forth  more  than  empty  threats  of  ven- 
geance. It  is  often  inquired,  how  these  little  creatures,  that  on  coni- 
mon  occasions  have  such  an  instinctive  dread  of  water,  are  enabled  to 
cross  broad  and  rapid  rivers,  like  the  Ohio  and  Hudson  tor  instance.  It 
has  been  asserted  by  authors,  and  is  believed  by  many,  that  they  carry 
to  the  shore  a  suitable  piece  of  bark,  and  seizing  the  opportunity  of  a 
favourable  breeze,  seat  themselves  upon  this  substitute  for  a  bc,^:,  hoist 
their  broad  tails  as  a  sail,  and  float  safely  to  the  opposite  shore.  This 
together  with  many  other  traits  of  intelligence  ascribed  to  this  species, 
we  suspect  to  be  apocryphal.  That  they  do  migrate  at  irregular,  and  oc- 
casionally at  distant  periods,  is  a  fact  sufficiently  established ;  but  in  the 
only  two  instances  in  which  we  had    opportunities  of  witnessing  tlie  .-.i 


272 


NouriiKUN  cuAV  sQimmEi. 


Uiiilioiis  of  (hcsr  Siiuirrrls,  it   iiiipciircd  (o  us,  ;iiat  flicy  wrro  not  onlj 
•iiiskiU'iil  sailors  liiit   clumsy  swiuuucrs.     One  ol"  llirsc  occiisioiis.   (iis  fur 
us  our  rcrollfcliiiu  serves  ns).  wiis  in  llie  aiKunm  of  INOH  or  IHOII;  iroopv 
of   Siiuirre-is   suildenly    aii<i   uiie\i)e('leilly    Mi.ide   llieir    a|i|ii'aran.  e   in   lliv 
nei>;liliourlioo»l ;  auiouK  IIu'im  were  varieties  not    previously  seen  in  tliost 
parts;  some  were  l)rou(IIy  striped   witli   yi'llow  en   the  sides,  and  a   lev 
had  a   l)!aek    stripe  on   eaeli  side,    hordered  with  yellow  or  lirown,    re 
semhiinj;  the  stripes  on  the  sides  of  the  Hudson's  IJay  Sipiirrel,  (S.  Itiid 
xoiliiis.)     They    swam   the     Hudson    in   various    pliers    hetweeii     Watei 
ford  and  Saratojia;  those    wliieh   we  observed    erossinn  the   river  were 
swinuniiiij    deep    and    awkwardly,    their    bodies    aii.l    tails  wludly  sub- 
merjied;  several   that  had  been  drowned   were  carried  downwards  by  tlm 
stream;  and  those  which  were  so  fortunate  as  to  reach  the  opposite  bank 
were  so  wet   and  fatijrued,  that  the  boys  stationed   there  with  clubs  found 
no  dilliculty  in  securing  them  alive  or  in  killini;  them.     Their  mij^rations 
on  that   occasion   flid   not.  as  far  as  we  could    learn,  extend    farther  east- 
ward than  the   mountains  of  Vermont;  many  remained  in  the  county  ol 
l{ens<elaer,  and  it  w.is  r«>markcd  that  for  several  years  afterwards  sipiirrola 
weie    far  more  mmierous  there  than  before.     It  is  doubtful   whetherawy 
ever  return  to  the  West,  as,  tindin^j:  forests   .and  food    suited  to  their   tastti 
and  habits,  thev  take  up  their  permanent  residence  in  their  newly  explor- 
ed counlry,  where  they   remain   and   i)ropaji;ate  their  species,  imtil  they 
are  gradually    thiimed    oil'  by  the  increase   of  in!iab'lants,  new  clcurinK.s, 
and  the  dexterity  of  the  si)ortsmcn  around  them.     The  other  instance  oc- 
curr(>(l  ill  ISli).  when  we  were  desctMidin;,'  the  Ohio  river  in  a  llat-boal,  or 
ark.  chielly   with  the  intention  of  seeking,'  for  birds  then   unknown  tc  us. 
About  oii(>  hundred  miles  below   ("iiiciiinati,  as  we  were   lloatiufj;  down 
the  stream,  we  observed  a  lar««^  number  of  S(piirrcls  swimming  a'    »ss 
the   river,  and  we  eontimicd  to  see  them  at  various  places,  until  we  i. ad 
ne.irlv  reached    Smithlaiid,    a  town  not    more  than  about  oiui    hundred 
miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio. 

At  times  they  were  strewed,  as  it  were,  over  the  surface  of  the  water, 
and  some  of  them  beiiiij:  fatigued,  souj^ht  a  few^  inomeiits'  rest  on  our  lonj? 
".ste-  .inir  oar."  which  huiiiX  into  the  water  in  a  slanting  direction  over 
♦lie  st(>rn  of  our  boat.  The  boys,  aloiiic  tla^  sliores  and  in  boats,  were  kill- 
iiiil  the  S(iuirrels  with  clubs  in  i,Mval  numbers,  altlioii^di  most  of  them  got 
safe  across.  Alter  they  had  rt<ached  the  shore  we  saw  some  of  them 
trimminsi  their  fur  on  the  fences  or  on  lo^s  of  drill-wood. 

We  kept  some  of  these  Sijuinvls  alive;  they  were  fed  with  hickory 
nuts,  pecans,  and  jirouiid  or  p<'a-nuts,  {Ar/ivliis  /i!/p(m.(r(/.)  Immediately 
alter  eatin"  a-  much  as  suliieed  for  a  meal,  lliey  hid  away  the  remaiiidei 


NOUTHKUN  (;|{AY  SQUIHKKL.  j^yj 

brncath  tlir  straw  and  cntUm  at  tlic  Ixttforn  of  tJuiir  ca^r  in  t\  little  heap. 
A  vriy  turiw  and  nvi\t\v  oiw  wv  hiul  in  a  room  at  Slii|,|,inm»ort,  nfiar 
Louisvillr,  Ki-ntucky,  oik-,  iiiKlit  ate  its  way  into  a  hurcau,  in  which  wo 
had  a  .juaiitity  of  arwriin  in  powder,  and  (Hcd  n-tt  morning  a  vi.-lim  to 
curiosity  or  app.-litr,  prohahly  th«  latter,  for  tho  bureau  also  contained 
sumo  wheat. 


UKOORAI'im.AI.    DIHTRIBirriON. 

ThlN  speeifis  exists  as  far  to  the;  north  as  Hudson's  Flay.  It  was  for- 
in<-rly  very  cotnmon  in  the  lVew-Rn«land  States,  and  in  their  lejist  cul- 
tivated districts  is  still  frequently  met  with.  It  is  abundant  in  New- York 
anil  in  the  nn>untainous  porliotis  of  Pennsylvania.  We  have  observed  it 
on  tJH!  nt.rtlicrn  mountains  (.f  Vir^iniii,  and  we  obtained  several  speci- 
mens  on  tlie  Upper  Missouri.  The  black  variety  is  more  abundant  in 
Upper  Canada,  in  tin-  western  part  of  Nev  York,  and  in  the  States  of 
Ohio  and  Indiana,  than  (dsewhere.  The  Nr.rthern  Gray  S<piirrel  does 
not  exist  in  any  of  its  varieties  in  South  Carolina,  (Jeoricia,  Florida,  or 
Alabama;  and  ainony;  s|.ecimeiis  sent  t«»  us  from  Louisiana,  stated  to  in- 
clude all  the  .squirrels  existiuy  in  that  State,  we  did  no*  discover  this 
specH's. 


RGNKRAf.    RKMARKH. 

There  exists  a  strong  general  resemblance  amonp:  all  our  species  of 
this  fjenus,  and  it  is  therefore  not  surprising  that  there  should  have  been 
Kreat  difficulty  in  tindinp:  characters  to  designate  the  various  species.  In 
the  museums  we  examined  in  F'lurope,  we  observed  that  several  species 
had  been  confoimded,  and  \vr,  were  every  where  told  by  the  eminent 
naturalists  with  whom  we  conversed  on  the  subject,  th.at  they  coul''  find 
no  characters  by  which  the  difTcTent  species  could  be  distinguished. 
Th(!  little  Carolina  Gray  S(|uirr(!l  was  first  described  by  Gmei.in.  Desma- 
REHT,  who  created  a  confusion  amone;  the  various  species  of  this  genus, 
which  is  almost  inextricable,  confounded  three  species — the  Northern 
Gray  Squirrel,  the  Southern  Carolina  Squirrel,  and  the  Cat-squirrel— under 
the  name  of  .Sfr.  cinereus,  and  CT\e  them  the  diminutive  size  often  inches 
sir  lines.  His  article  was  literally  translated  by  Hari.«n,  including  the 
measurements,  (Desm.,  Mamm.,  p.  332;  Harlan's  Fauna,  p.  173,)  and  he 
also  apparently  blended  the  three  species — S  cinereus,  S.  mifrratorius, 
and  S.  Carolinrusis.  Godman  ealhul  the  Northern  species  S.  Carolinemis, 
and  TiEcoNTK,,  who  nppenrs  to  ha\e  had  a  more  correct  view  of  the  species 
peaerally  than  all  previous  authors,  (see  Appendix  to  McMcktrik's  trans 
35 


Ilil^ 


iii 


274 


NORTHERN  GRAY  SQUIRREL. 


latioii  of  f'dviER,  vol.  i.,  p.  433,)  regarded  the  Carolina  and  the  Northern 
Gray  Squirrel  as  identical. 

In  1833  and  1834  Gapper.  (Zoological  Journal,  vol.  v.,  p.  201,)  found  in 
Upper  Canada  an  individuaf,  of  what  we  suppose  to  be  a  variety  of  the 
Northern  Gray  Squirrel,  with  white  ears,  with  the  upper  parts  varied 
with  mixture  of  white,  black  and  ochre,  and  with  a  stripe  of  similar 
colour  along  the  sides.  Supposing  it  to  be  a  species  different  from  the 
common  Gray  Squirrel,  he  bestowed  on  it  the  characteristic  name  of  Sciu- 
rus  Leucotis  (white  eared).  In  our  monograph  of  the  genus  Sciurus,  read 
befo'e  the  Zoological  Society,  (Proceedings  Zool.  Soc,  1838,  Op.  Sup.,  cit., 
p.  91,)  we  adopted  the  name  of  Gapper,  without  having  seen  his  descrip- 
tion, having  been  informed  by  competent  naturalists  that  he  had  describ- 
ed this  species. 

Having,  however,  aftervv^ards  obtained  a  copy  of  the  articles  of  Gap- 
per, and  ascertained  that  he  had  described  a  variety  that  is  very  seldom 
met  with,  we  were  anxious  to  rid  our  nomenclature  of  a  name  which  is 
very  inappropriate  to  this  species,  and  which  is  calculated  constantly 
to  mislead  the  student  of  nature.     ^ 

Gapper  compared  his  specimen  with  the  Northern  Gray  Squirrel,  and 
finding  that  the  latter  species  was  gray,  and  not  of  an  ochreous  coloui 
like  the  one  he  described,  with  ears  not  white  but  of  the  colour  of  the 
back,  he  regarded  his  variety  as  a  different  species.  He  designated  the 
Northern  Gray  Squirrel  as  the  Carolina  Squirrel,  the  difference  between 
the  Northern  and  Southern  Gray  Squirrels  not  having  been  pointed  out 
till  it  was  done  in  our  monograph  lour  years  afterwards. 

As  a  general  rule,  we  adhere  to  the  views  entertained  by  naturalists 
that  it  is  best  to  retain  a  naiae  once  imposed,  however  inappropriate, 
unless  likely  to  propagate  injportant  errors;  in  the  present  instance, 
however,  we  propose  the  name  ofS.  migratorius,  as  applicable  to  the 
A'ide-ranging  habits  of  this  Squirrel,  it  being  the  only  one  in  our  country 
that  appears  to  possess  this  peculiarity. 

The  name  hucotis  is  appropriate  only  to  the  Southern  Fox-squirrel, 
which  has  permanently,  and  in  all  its  varieties,  white  ears. 

We  have  been  somewhat  at  a  loss  where  to  place  the  species  given  as 
the  Fox-squirrel,  .V.  imlpinns  of  Dekav,  (see  Nat.  Hist.  New-York,  p.  59,) 
and  have  marked  our  quotation  with  a  doubt.  His  description  does  not 
apply  very  well  lo  ihe  Pennsylvania  Fox-squirrel,  {S.  cincretis,)  of  which 
Gmelin's  S.  vnlpiims  is  only  a  synonyme.  He  states  indeed,  "  We  suspect 
that  GonMAN's  Fox-squirrel  as  well  as  his  Cat-squirrel,  nre  varieties  only 
of  the  Hooded-squirrel.  and  not  to  be  referred  to  our  Northern  animal." 
We  hav'\  in  our  article  on  S.  cinereus,  noticed  the  errors  conlf-ned  in  the 


NORTHERN  GRA\    SQUIRREL. 


275 


above  quotation,  and  only  allude  to  it  here  as  a  possible  clue  to  the  spe- 
cies  he  had  in  view,  viz.,  "not  the  species"  given  by  Godman  as  S.  cine- 
reus,  but  another  that  agrees  with  the  Northern  Gray  Squirrel  "  in  every 
particular  except  the  size."  He  further  adds,  that  "its  habits  and  geo- 
graphical  distribution  are  the  same  as  in  the  preceding,"  meanin-  the 
Northern  Gray  Squirrel.  ° 

He  evidently  has  reference  to  a  larger  species  of  the  Gray  Squirrel  as 
existing    in  the  same  localities,    with  "the  hair  on  the  posterior  surface 
of  the  ears  projecting  two  lines  beyond  the  margins,"  differing  from  the 
species  he  had  just  described  as  the  Northern  Gray  Squirrel,  which  he 
characterized  as  having  ears  "  covered  with   short  hairs ;   no  pencil  of 
hairs  at  the  tips."     Although  his  figure  resembles  in  several  particulars 
that  of  the  Cat-squirrel,  (S.  cinereus,)  parts  of  his  description  and  his  ac- 
count of  the  habits  seem  more  appropriate  to  the  tufted  winter  speci- 
mens of  the  present  species.     The  appearance  of  the  ears  in  specimens 
obtamed  in  winter  and  summer  pelage  differs  so  widely  that  we  our- 
selves were  for  many  years  misled  by  the  tufts  and  large  size  of  the  old 
in  winter.     We  recollect  that  in  our  school-boy  days  we  were  in  the  habit 
of  obtaining  many  specimens  of  the  Gray  Squirrel  during  summer  and 
autumn,  which  answered  to  the  description  of  S.  migratorius.  havin-  their 
ears  clothed  with  short  hairs  which  did  not  project  beyond  the  margins 
on  the  posterior  surface.     During  the  following  winter,  however,  we  oc- 
casionally caught  in  a  steel-trap  a  specimen  much  larger,  very 'fat   and 
with  ears  tufted  like  that  described  as  S.  vulpinus ;  and  we  prepared  the 
specimens  under  an  impression  that  a  new  species  had  made  its  appear- 
ance in  the  neighbourhood.     The  following  summer,  however,  we  pro- 
cured in  that  locality  no  other  than  the  common  Grav  Squirrel    destitute 
of  the  fringes  on  the  ears.     We  now  resorted  to  a  different  mode  of  solv- 
mg  the  problem.     We  obtained  several  young  Northern  Gray  S.juirrels 
which  we  kept  in  cages ;  during  the  first  winter  their  ears  underwent  no 
particular  change.     But  in  the  month  of  December  of  the  second  year 
when  they   had  become    very  fat  and   had  grown   considerably    larger' 
their  ears  on  the  posterior  surface  became  fringed    and  exactly  corres-' 
ponded  with  the  winter  specimens  we  had  previously  obtained.     As  we 
could  not  feel  a  perfect   confidence  in  our  own  notes  made  more  than 
thirty  years  ago.  we  recently  made  in,,Miries  from  Dr.   Lkovarp    of  Lan- 
singburg.  New- York,   an  accurate  and   ii.teili-.M.t  naturalist    whose  an- 
swer   we    subjoin :-"  It    is    considered    estal.Iished    bv   naturalist,    and 
observing  sportsmen,    that  the  Gray   S(,uirrel,    after  the  first  year,    has 
fringed  ears  in  its  winter  peiage,  and  that  of  course  there  is  but  one  spe- 
cies.    Of  ten  prepared  specimens,  which  I  have  recently  examined,  *-ight 


w 

G 

■ 

■ 

■'     H  i' 

■ 

w  ■ 

H^JH 

^H['.'  ^^1 

^^^^K<J     ^" 

^^H'!^ 

^^H 

^^^^^K 

'^^^H 

^B^  H 

r  1 

1 

■ 

f 


r« 


,.,  Slit 


276 


NORTHERN  GRAY  SQUIRREL. 


have  bare  ears,  and  two  (one  of  them  being  of  the  black  variety)  have 
the  ears  fringed  ;  differing  in  no  other  respect,  except  the  general  ful!  r 
development  of  the  hair,  from  the  other  specimens  of  their  respective 
varieties. " 

We  are  moreover  under  an  impression  that  the  specimen  of  the  North- 
ern Gray  Squirrel,  from  which  Pekay  took  his  measurement,  must  have 
been  a  young  animal.  He  gives  head  and  body,  eight  inches  :  tail,  eight 
inches  five  lines.  Out  of  more  than  fifty  specimens  that  we  have  mea- 
sured in  the  flesh,  there  was  not  one  that  measured  less  than  ten  inches 
in  body  and  eleven  inches  in  tail. 

The  true  S.  cuiercus  or  iS'.  vulpinus  has  moreover  not  the  same.geogra- 
phical  range  as  the  Northern  Gray  Squirrel.  It  is  not  found  in  Canada, 
where  the  present  species  is  common,  nor  in  the  most  northerly  parts  of 
either  New-York  or  the  New-England  States.  We  obtained  several 
specimens  from  the  New- York  market,  and  as  we  have  shown  in  our  ar- 
ticle on  S.  cinereus,  it  is  occasionally  found  in  the  southern  counties  of 
the  State  ;  but  it  is  a  very  rare  species  north  and  east  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  is  principally  confined  to  the  Middle  and  some  of  the  South-western 
States. 

The  Northern  Gray  Squirrel  (-S.  migrntorius)  may  be  easily  distinguish 
ed  from  the  Carolina  Gray  Squirrel  {S.  carolinensis)  by  its  larger  size, 
broader  tail,    and  lighter   gray  colours  on  the  sides,    and  by  its  smaller 
persistent  tooth. 

S.  cinereus  or  S.  vulpinus  differs  from  this  species  in  being  a  little 
longer,  having  a  much  stouter  body  and  legs,  and  a  longer  tail.  It  has, 
in  proportion  to  its  size,  shorter  ears,  which  are  more  rounded,  and 
have  the  tufts  or  fringes  in  winter  much  shorter.  The  fur  is  also 
coarser,  and  it  has  in  each  upper  jaw  but  four  teeth,  dropping  its  milk- 
tooth  when  very  young,  whilst  the  Northern  Gray  Squirrel  {S.  migra- 
torius)  has  five  on  each  side,  which  appear  to  be  permanent. 


277 


GENUS  HYSTRIX.-L.Nif. 


DENTAL    FORMULA. 


Incisive  - ;     Canine 


0-0 
0-0  ' 


4 4 

Molar—-  =  20. 


Superior  incisors,  on  the  anterior  portion,  smooth,  cuneiform  at  their 
extremity ;  inferior  incisors,  strong  and  compressed. 

Molars,  compound,  with  flat  crowns,  variously  modified  by  plates  of 
enamel,  between  which  are  depressed  intervals. 

Head,  strong;  snout,  thick  and  tumid ;  ears,  short  and  round;  tongue 
bristled  with  spiny  scales;  fore-feet,  four-toed;  hind-feet,  five-toed;  all 
the  toes  armed  with  powerful  nails. 

Spines  on  the  body,  sometimes  intermixed  with  hair ;  tail,  moderately 
long,  in  some  species  of  the  genus,  prehensile. 

Herbivorous,  feeding  principally  on  grain,  fruits,  roots,  and  the  bark 
ut  trees— dig  holes  in  the  earth,  or  nestle  in  the  hollows  of  trees. 

The  generic  name  is  derived  from  the  Greek  word,  J<rT^,g,  {hustrix,)  a 
porcupine— •»,  (hus,)  a  hog,  and  «^g,  {ihrix,)  a  bristle. 

There  are  two  species  in  North,  and  three  in  South  America,  one  in 
Southern  Europe,  one  in  Africa,  and  one  in  India. 


HYSTRIX  DORSATA.-LiNN. 

Canada  Porcupfne. 

PLATE  XXXVI— Mali. 

H.  spinus  brevibus,  vellere  sublatentibus ;  sine  jubea ;  capita  et  colio 
sefis  longis  vestitis ;  colore  inter  fulvum  et  nigrum  variante. 

CHARACTERS. 

Spines,  short,  partially  concealed  by  long  hair;  no  mane;  long  bristles 
m  the  head  and  neck  ;  colour,  varying  keiwcen  Ught-bnmi  and  black. 


i  \ 


278 


CANADA  roUCUPlNE 


SYN0NYME9. 


Hystrix  P1LO8U8  Amerioanus,  Catcsby,  Cuv.,  App.,  p.  30,  1740. 
The  PoRCUi'iNE  from  Hudson's  Hav,  Edwards'  Birds,  j)  52. 
Uystrix  IIi'DsoNius,  IJrissoii,  Ri'gm^  Animal,  p.  128. 
Hystrix  Dorsata,  Linn.,  Syst.,  Edwards,  xii.,  p.  57. 
"  "         Erxlcbcn,  p.  345. 

"  "         Schreber,  Siiugetliieri!.  p.  605. 

L'Urson,  Buflon,  vol.  xii.,  p.  420. 

Canada  Pokoupink,  Forst  ,  I'hil.  Trans.,  vol.  Ixii.,  p.  374. 
<•  "  Peini.,  (iuadrupeds,  vol.  ii.,  p.  126. 

'<  "  Arctic  Zoology,  vol.  i.,  p.  100. 

The  PoKCUi'iNK,  Hcarne's  Journal,  p.  381. 
EuKTiiizoN  DousATi'M.  V.  Ciiv.,  in  Mom.  du  Mus.,  ix..  t.  20. 
Pohc-Epic  Vkm',  Cuv  ,  H(-gn"  Animal,  i.,  p.  20!>. 
Hystrix  Dorsata,  Sabine,  Fianklin's  .lourn.,  p.  C04. 
"         Harlan,  Fauna,  p.  109. 
<<  "  Godman,  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  160. 

"         PiLOsus,  Rich.,  Fauna  Horcali  Americana,  p.  214. 
HuDsoNius,  Dekay,  Nat.  Hist.  New-York,  p.  77. 

DESCRIPTION. 

The  body  of  this  species  is  thick,  very  broad,  cyliiidric.il,  and  to  a  high 
degree  elumsy.  The  back  is  much  arched  in  a  curve  from  the  nose  to 
the  buttocks,  when  it  declines  in  an  angle  to  the  lail. 

The  whole  upper  surface  of  the  body  from  the  nose  to  the  extremity  of 
the  tail  is  covered  by  long  and  rather  coarse  hair,  intermixed  with  a 
dense  mass  of  spines  or  (juills.     These  are  of  a  cylindrical  shape,  very 
sharp  at  the  extremity  and  pointed  at  the  roots.     The  animal  is  capable 
of  erecting  them  at  pleasure,   and   they  are  detached  by  the   slightest 
touch ;  they  arc  barbed  with  numerous  smiill  reversed  points  or  prickles, 
which,  when  once  inserted  in  the  flesh,  will  by  the  mere  movement  of  the 
limbs  work  themselves  deeper  into  the  body.     There  seems  to  be  in  cer- 
tain parts  of  the  body  of  this  species  a  regular  gradation   from  hair  to 
spines ;  on  the  nose  for  instance,  the  hair  is  rather  soft,  a  little  higher  up 
it  is  succeeded  by  bristles  intermixed  with  small  spines.     These  spines 
continue  to  lengthen  on  the  hinder  parts  of  the  head,  to  increase  in  size 
on  the  shoulders,   and  are  longer  and  inon^  rigid  on  the  buttocks  and 
thighs.      In  specimens  of  old  animals,  the  whole  upper  surface  of  the 
body  is  covered  by  a  mass  of  (piills,  with  thin  tufts  of  long  hairs,  six 
inches  in  length,  on  the  Ibrehead,  shoulders,  and  along  the  sides. 

Head,  rather  small  for  the  size   of  the  animal,  and  very  short;  nose, 
truncated,  broad,  tiattish  above,  and  tcrmin.-iting  .'ibruptly.     The  eyes  are 


CANADA  PORCUPINE 

279 

lateral  and  small;  ears,  small,  rounded,  covered  bv  shor.   r„r    „    . 
caled  .,y  ,hc  adjoining  ,o„,  hair ;  ineiso;,  large  and  st:.  ""' 

l-t'f(s,  very  sliort  and  rather  stont  •  fliw«   t,.i„.„i  i     i 
mode,.,.,..,,.  „rc„cd,  „„„  „l ,„„:rt'„l7''  '""">■  '""^-  "-P---. 

There  are  tufts  of  hair  ,i,ua.c,l  between  tl,e  ,„e,;  palm,   naked  ^nd 
nearly      a,,  ,    ,  „„,  ,„,„„„,„^^^  „^  ^^^  ^__^^_^.  ^^  -J^^  alfc  r  Z 

lees,  Ihe  »oeond,    eounhng   from  the  inside,   lo,i™t    the   tl,:„l       .  .? 
™«ner,  the  „r.,t  a  size  U»,  and  the  h.nrth'  ™S.        n   h    hil  S 
*ere  are  „,„  .  ,^  „,,„,  eerre,p„„di„,  ,„  ,h„,„  „„"  ^     ;;;:,' 

Tl  r,  are  .„  th.ekly  and  hroadly  arranged  along  the  side,  ofthe    ol"; 

hat  they  g,ve  a  great  apparent  breadth  to  the  llK,t,  enabling  tbi,  elum,v 

Ike  the  hear    presses  on  the  earth  throughont  the  whole  h.ith  „|- 
"los.     Ta,l    short  and  thiek,  eovere.l  above  with  spines,  ben™  h  with 
Ug  r,g„l  l,a,rs;  when  walking  or  elimbing,  1.  i,  ,„,L  ;„,„  J^^ 
Four  tnamm.T,  fill  ponloral.  upvvarus. 

Whilst,  fho  vvhol,.  upper  .surface  of  the  body  is  covered  with  spines  the 
under  surface  is  clothed  with  hair  intermix^,  with  fur  of  a  soZ  "^^^^ 
To  ha,r  on  the  throat  and  under  the  belly  is  rather  soft ;  alon,  the  dt 
it  as  longer  and  coarser,  and  under  the  tail  appears  like  strong  bristles 

COLOUR. 

Incisors,   deep   orange;    whole    upper   surface,   blackish-brown,  inter- 

persed  v,  ,h   long  hairs,  many  of  them   being  eight  inches  in    engU  • 

hese  hau.s  are  for  four-fifths  of  their  length  dark-brown,  with  the  points 

rom  one  to  two  inches  white.     There  are  also  long  white  hairs  in  ^ 

spewed  under  the  ,bn-.egs,  on  the  chest,  and  along  the  sides  of  the  t^ 

The  sp„,es  or  .,u.ll,s,  which  vary  in  length  from  one  to  four  inches  are 

or  bl.t,  k  ,   irequently   brown,  and  occasionally   white.      On  some  speci- 

oXt    th         '"''^^•^''^'^'^"^  ^'"^'''l>^  present  a  speckled  appearance, 
owmg  to  the  preponderance  of  the  long  white  quills  tipped   with  black 
The  na.ls  and  the  whole  under  surface  are  dark  brown. 

There   .s  m  this  species  a  considerable   difference   both  in  size  and 
colour  o(  different  specimens. 

ver  to  the  above  descr.pt.on  and  to  the  figure  on  our  plate.     Another 
....h  w.  <.ta„,ed  at  Fort  Union  on  the  Mis.souri,  is  o,' enormous  size.' 
™u..„g  ,h,,.,een  md.es  across  the  back  ;  the  long  hairs  on  the  shoulders 
lonluad,  .,.,1  .„!,,o,  ,,i.i,h,  ,,.,,  ii^j,  ,Hiowisl.-brown.  whilst  anotlu.; 


j^B! 


280 


CANADA  PORCUPliNR. 


specimen  from  the  same  locality,  which  appears  to  be  that  of  a  young 
animal,  is  (lull  white,  wilh  brown  nose,  ears  and  rump.  In  every  speci- 
men,  however,  the  hairs  on  the  hips,  upper  surface  of  tail,  and  under 
surface  of  body,  are  dark  blackish-brown.  In  all  these  cases,  it  is  the 
Ions,  overhanging,   light-coloured   hairs,   that  give  the  general   whitish 

appearance. 

The  difference  between  these  !  lecimens  is  so  striking,  that  whilst 
those  from  Lower  Canada  may  be  described  as  black,  the  others  from  the 
far  West  may  be  designated  as  light-gray.  Except  in  size  and  colour, 
there  are  no  especial  marks  of  difference. 


lilMENSIONS. 


29 

7 

u 


inches, 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 


Length  of  head  and  body  .         -        -         - 

Tail,  (vertebra-) 

Tail,  to  end  of  fur 

Breadth  of  nose ' 

From  heel  to  longest  nail  -         -         "         ■  ^i 

We  possess  one  specimen  a  little  larger  than  the  above,  and  several 
that  are  considerably  smaller. 

HABITS. 

The  Canada  Porcupine,  of  all  North  American  quadrupeds,  possesses 
the  strangest  peculiarities  in  its  organization  and  habits.  In  its  move- 
ments  it  is  the  most  sluggish  of  all  our  species.  Although  the  skunk  is 
slow  of  foot,  he  would  prove  no  contemptible  competitor  with  it  in  a  trial 
of  speed.  Under  such  circumstances  the  inquiry  arises,  what  protection 
has  this  animal  against  the  attacks  of  the  wolverene,  the  lynx,  the 
wolf,  and  the  cougar?  and  how  long  will  it  be  before  it  becomes  total- 
ly exterminated  ?  But  a  wise  Creator  has  endowed  it  with  powers  by 
which  it  can  bid  defiance  to  the  whole  ferine  race,  the  grizzly  bear 
not  excepted.  If  the  skunk  presents  to  its  enemies  a  formidable  battery, 
that  stifles  and  burns  at  the  same  time,  tlie  Porcupine  is  clothed  in 
an  impervious  coat  of  mail  bristling  with  bayonets. 

We  kept  a  living  animal  of  this  kind  in  a  cage  in  Charleston  fur  six 
months,  and  on  many  occasions  witnessed  the  manner  in  which  it  arrang- 
ed its  formidable  spines,  in  order  to  prove  invulnerable  to  the  attacks 

of  its  enemies. 

It  was  occasionally  let  out  of  its  cage  to  enjoy  the  benefit  oi  a  pro- 
menade in  the  garden.  It  had  become  very  genth^  and  evinced  no  sp.te- 
fu'  propensities:   when   we  called  toil,  holding   in  our  hand  a  tempting 


CANADA  PORCUPINE. 


281 


7TuT  ^ ,  ■  ";  '^I^I''^\"  r"'^  *-"  '^«  head  slowly  towards  us,  and 
ZtZ  ,r''/"\"'^^'"^  ''f '  -d  then  with  stately  steps  advance 
and  take  the  fruit  from  our  hand.  It  then  assumed  an  upright  posi- 
on  and  conveyed  the  potatoe  or  apple  to  Its  mouth  with  its  paws. 
If  It  found  the  door  of  our  study  open,  it  would  march  in,  and  gently 
approach  us.  rubbing  its  sides  against  our  legs,  and  looking  up  at  us 
as  If  supplicating  for  additional  delicacies.  We  frequently  plac^ued 
•t  m  order  to  try  its  temper,  but  it  never  evinced  any  spirit  of  re- 
sentment by  raising  its  bristles  at  us;  but  no  sooner  did  a  dog  make 
h.s  appearanee,  than  in  a  moment  it  was  armed  at  all  points  in  defence 
It  would  bend  us  nose  downward,  erect  its  bristles,  and  by  a  threatening 
sKleway  movement  of  the  tail,  give  evidence  that  it  was  ready  for  the 

A  large,  fepocious.  and  exceedingly  troublesome  mastiff,  belongin.^  to 
he  neighbourhood,  had  been  in  the  habit  of  digging  a  hole  under^he 
fence  and  entenng  our  garden.  Early  one  morning  we  saw  him  making 
a  dash  at  some  object  in  the  corner  of  the  fence,  which  proved  to  be  our 
Porcupme.  wh.ch  had  during  the  night  made  its  escape  from  the  cage. 
The  dog  seemed  regardless  of  all  its  threats,  and  probably  supposing  it 
to  be  an  animal  not  more  formidable  than  a  cat,  sprang  upon  it  with 
open  mouth.  The  Porcupine  seemed  to  swell  up  in  an  ilan't  to  nei:  y 
double  ts  size  and  as  the  dog  pounced  upon  it,  it  dealt  him  such  a  side- 
wise  lateral  blow  with  its  tail,  as  to  cause  the  mastilTto  relinquish  his  hold 

and"?'  ^1  7  : '""'  '""'  "  ^"  ^^'"^  «'  P^'"-     "''^  --^h,  tongue, 

and  nose,  were  full  of  porcupine  quills.     He  could  not  close  his  jkws  bu 

hurried  open-mouthed  out  of  the  premises.  It  proved  to  him  a  lesso;  fo,- 
life,  as  nothing  could  ever  afterwards  induce  him  to  revisit  a  place 
where  he  had  met  with  such  an  unneighbourly  reception.  Although  the 
servants  immediate^  extracted  the  spines  from  the  mouth  of  the  dog 
we  observed  that  his  head  was  terribly  swelled  for  several  weeks  a^ 
terwards,  and  it  was  two  months  before  ho  finally  recovered 

C.H.vv„io„.,  (Journal,  vol.  ii.,  p.  59,)  gives  a  description  of  the  destruc- 
tive habits  of  the  Porcupine,  which  in  many  particulars  i.  so  much  in 
accordance  with  our  own   observation,  that  we  will  present  it  to  o^" 

"The  Porcupine  readily  climbs  trees;  for  which  purpose  he  is  furnish- 

I  belle!  ^T'd    "'  '""^^  '  '^'"'  ^"  '''  '''"''-''  -"^"  '^  --"^«  '"^o  ^     i 
beheye  he  does  not  come  down  until  he  has  eaten  the  bark  from  th,: 

top  to  the  bottom.     He  generally  makes  his  course  through  the  wood   n 

a. straight  direction,  seldom  missing  a  tree,  unless  such  a^  are  old      l" 

loves  young  ones  l,.s..  and  devours  so  muel,  (only  eating  the  inner  part 


HfK 


I       ^! 


282 


CANADA  PORCUPINE. 


of  the  rin(l)  that  I  have  frequently  known  one  Porcupine  ruin  nearly  a 
hundred  trees  in  a  winter. 

«  A  man  who  is  acquainted  with  the  nature  of  these  animals  will  sel 
dom  miss  fmdins  them  when  the  snow  is  on  the  ground.  If  he  can  but 
hit  upon  the  rinding  of  that  winter,  by  making  a  circuit  around  the  bark- 
ed  trees  he  will  soon  come  on  his  track,  unless  a  very  deep  snow  should 
have  chanced  to  fall  after  his  last  ascent.  Having  discovered  that,  he 
will  not  be  long  ere  he  find  the  animal." 

In  reference  to  the  manner  in  which  the  Porcupine  defends  itself  with 
its  nuills,  he  makes  the  following  observations  :  "  It  is  a  received  opinion 
that  a  Porcupine  can  dart  his  quills  at  pleasure  into  a  distant  object, 
but  I  venture  to  affirm  that  this  species  cannot,  (whatever  any  other  may 
do,)  for  I  have  taken  much  pains  to  discover  this  fact.     On  the  approach 
of'danger  he  retreats  into  a  hole,  if  possible,  but  where  he  cannot  find 
one  he  seizes  upon  the  best  shelter  that  ofliers,  sinks  his  nose  between  his 
fore-legs,  and  defends  himself  by  a  sharp  stroke  of  his  tail,  or  a  sudden 
jerk  of  his  back.     As  the  quills  are  bearded  at  their  i)oints  and  not  deeply 
rooted  in  the  skin,  they  stick  firmly  into  whatever  they  penetrate  ;  great 
care  should  be  taken  to  extract  them  immediately,  otherwise  by  the  mus- 
cular motion  of  the  animal  into  which  they  are  stuck,  enforced  by  the 
beards  of  the  quills,  they  soon  work  themselves  quite  through  the  part; 
but  I  ncN  er  perceived  the  puncture  to  be  attended  with  any  worse  symp 
toms  than  that  of  a  chirurgical  instrument." 

We  had  on  three  occasions  in  the  northern  and  western  parts  of  New 
York  opportunities   of  witnessing  the  effects  produced  by  the  persevering 
efi'orts  of  this  species  in  search    after    its    simple    food.      In  travelling 
through  the  forest  from  Niagara  to  Louisville  a  few  years  ago,  we  passed 
through  two  or  three  acres  of  ground  wiiere  nearly  all  the  young  trees 
had  on  the  previous  winter  been  deprived  of  their  bark,  and  were  as  per- 
fectly killed  as  if  a  fire  had  passed  through  them.     We  were  informed  by 
our  coachman,   that  in  driving  through  this  place  during  the  winter  he 
had  on  several   occasions  seen  the  Porcupine  on  one  of  these  trees,  and 
that  he  believed  all  the  mischief  had  been  done  by  a  single  animal.     We 
perceived  that  it  had  stripped  every  slippery  elm  (Wm».v/«/r«)  in  the 
neighbourhood,  left  not  a  tree  of  the  bass  wood  {Tilin  glahrn)  alive,  but 
had  principally  fensted  on  the  hemlock,  {Ahks  Canmknsis.) 

Mr.  .T  Cr.  Bei-l,  one  of  our  companions  in  our  recent  journey  to  the 
West,  met  with  some  Porcupines  that  resorted  to  a  ravine,  in  which  about 
a  hundred  cotton- wood  trees  {Populus  anirulotus)  were  standing,  thnt 
had  been  denuded  of  both  the  bark  and  leaves.  They  had  remamed  m 
this  locality  until  they  had  eaten  not  only  the  tender  branches,  but  had 


CANADA  POltCUPINE. 


2S3 


devoured  the  bark  of  some  of  the  largest  trees,  by  which  they  killed 
nearly  every  onr.  They  then  were  ''orced  in  their  own  defence  to  remove 
to  new  quarters.  Wo  were  informed  -that  in  a  similar  ravi.io  to  the  one 
just  spoken  of,  no  less  than  thirteen  Porcupines  were  killed  in  a  single 
season  by  a  young  hunter. 

On  a  visit  to  the  western  portion  of  the  county  of  Saratoga,  New- York 
mthe  winter  of  1813,  a  farmer  residing  in  the  vicinity  carried  us  in  his 
sleigh  to  show  us  a  Porcupine  which  he  had  frequently  seen  durin-  the 
wmter,    assuring  us  that  he  could  find  it  on  the  very  tree   where  he 
had  observed  it  the  previous  day.     We  were  disappointed,  finding  that 
It  had  deserted  the  tree  ;  we  however  traced  it  in  the  snow  by  a  well 
beaten  path,  which  it  seeme.l  to  have  used  daily,  to  a  beech  tree  not 
far  distant,  which  we  cut  down,  and  at  the  distance  of  twenty  feet  from 
the  root    we    found    the    object    of  our   search    in  a  hollow    part      It 
growled  at  us,  and  was  particularly  spiteful  towards  a  small  dog  that 
was  with  us.     Our  friend  killed  it  by  a  blow  on  the  nose,  the  only  vul- 
iierable  part  as  he  informed   us.     It  seemed  to  have  been  confined  to  a 
space  of  about  two  acres  of  ground  through  the  winter.     It  had  fed  prin- 
cipally  on  hemlock  bark,  and  had  destroyed  upwards  of  a  hundred  trees. 
The  observations  made  on  this  occasion  incline  us  to  doubt  the  correct- 
ness of  the  statement  that  the  Canada  Porcupine  does  not  leave  a  tree 
until  It  has  eaten  off  all  the  bark,  and  that  it  remains  for  a  week  or  more 
on  the  same  tree;   we  were  on  the  contrary  led  to  suppose  that  the  indi 
vidual  we  have  just  spoken  of,  retired  nightly  to  its  comfortable  domicilt- 
and  warm  bed  in  the  hollow  beach,  in  which  we  discovered  it. 

The  Porcupine  we  kept  in  Charleston  did  not  appear  very  choice  in 
regard  to  its  food.  It  ate  almost  any  kind  of  vegetable  we  presented  to 
It.  We  gave  it  cabbages,  turnips,  potatoes,  apples,  and  even  bread,  and 
It  usually  cut  to  pieces  every  thing  we  placed  in  the  cage  that  it  could 
not  consume.  We  had  a  tolerably  large  sweet  bay  tree  (Lauras  nohilis) 
in  the  garden ;  the  instant  that  we  opened  the  door  of  the  cage  the  Por- 
cupine would  make  its  way  to  this  tree,  and  not  only  feed  greedily  on  its 
bark,  but  on  its  leaves  also.  When  it  had  once  fixed  itself  on  a  tree  it 
was  exceedingly  difficult  to  induce  it  to  come  down,  and  our  efforts  to 
<orce  It  from  the  tree  were  the  only  provoctives  by  which  it  could  be 
made  to  growl  at  us.  We  occasionally  heard  it  during  the  night,  utter- 
ing a  shrill  note,  that  might  be  called  a  low  querulous  shriek. 

As  the  spring  advanced,  we  ascertained  that  the  constitution  of  our 
poor  Porcupine  was  not  intended  for  a  warm  .  limate  ;  when  the  hot 
weather  came  on,  it  suffered  so  much  that  we  wished  it  back  again  in  its 
Canadian  wilds.     It  would  lie  panting  in  its  cage  the  whole  day,  seemed 


m 


284 


CANADA  POHCUPINE. 


( 


jl! 


restless  and  miserable,  lost  its  appetite  and  refused  food.  We  one  even- 
ing placed  it  on  its  favourite  bay  tree  ;  it  immediafely  commenced  gnaw- 
injjf  the  bark,  which  we  supposed  a  favourable  symptom,  but  it  fell  off 
during  the  night,  and  was  dead  before  morning. 

Whilst  on  the  Upper  Missouri  river  in  the  year   1813,  as  our  com- 
panion, Mr.  J.  G.  Bell,  was  cautiously  making  his  way  through  a  close 
thicket  of  willows  and  brush-wood  in  search  of  a  fine  buck  elk,  that  he 
with  one  of  our  men  had  seen  enter  into  this  cover  when  they  were  at 
least  a  mile  distant,  he  could  not  avoid  cracking  now  and  then  a  dry 
stick  or  fallen  branch.     He  could  iiot  see  more  than  ten  paces  in  any 
direction,  from  the  denscness  of  the  thicket,  and,  as  he  unfortunately  trod 
upon  a  thicker  branch  than  usual    which   broke  with    a  crash,  the  elk 
brushed   furiously  out  of  the  thicket,  and  was  gone  in  a  moment,  making 
the  twigs  and  branches  rattle  as  he  dashed  them  aside  with  (shall  we 
say)  "  telegraphic "  rapidity.     Mr.   Bell  stood   motionless  for  a  minute, 
\vhen  as  he  was  about  to  retreat  into  the  open  prairie,  and  join  his  com- 
|)anion  after  this  unsuccessful  termination  of  the  elk  hunt,  his  eyes  were 
fixed  by  an  uncouth  mass    on  the  ground  almost   at  his  feet ;    it  was  a 
Porcupine ;  it  remained  perfectly  still,  and    when    he    approached    did 
not  attempt  to  retreat.     Our  friend  was  rather  perplexed  to  know  how  to 
treat  an  enemy  that  would  neither  "  fight  nor  fly,"  and  seizing  a  large 
stick,  he  commenced  operations  by  giving  the  Porcupine   (which  must 
have  been  by  thi^  time  displeased  at  least,  if  not  "  fretful,")   a  severe 
blow  with   it  on   the  nose.     The  animal  immediately  concealed  the  in- 
jured organ,  and  his  whole   head  also,  under  his  belly  ;  rolling  himself 
up  into  a  ball,  with  the  exception  of  his  tnil,  which  he  occasionally  jerked 
about  and  flirted  upwards  over  his  back.     lie  now  remained  still  again, 
and  Mr.  Bell  drew  a  good  sized  knife,  with  which  he  tried  'o  kill  him 
by  striking  at  his  side  so  as  to  avoid  the  points  <*f  the  quilis  as  much  as 
he  could.     This  fresh  attack  caused  the  Porcupine  to  make  violent  efforts 
to  escape,  ne  seized  hold  of  the  branches  or  roots  within  reach  of  his  fore- 
i'eet,  and  pulled   forwards  with  great  force  ;    Mr.  Bell  then  placed  his 
gun  before  him,  which  stopned  him  ;  then  finding  he   could  not  lay  hold 
of  him  nor  capture  him  in  any  other  way,  he  drew  his  ramrod,  which  had 
a  large  screw  at  the  end  for  wiping  out  his  gun,  and  commenced  screwing 
it  into  the  Porcupine's  back.      This    induced  the  poor  animal  again  to 
make  violent  efforts  to  escape,  but  by  the  aid  of  the  screw  and  repeated 
thrusts  with  the  kiiit'e,  he  soon  killed  the  creature. 

lie  was  now  anxious  to  rejoin  his  com|)anion,  but  did  not  liketorelin- 
riuish  his  game  ;  he  therefore,  not  thinking  it  advisable  to  stop  and  skin 
it  on  the  spot,  managed  to  tie  it  by  the  fore-legs,  and  then  dragged  it  on 


CANADA  PORCUPINE. 


385 


file  ground  after  him  until  he  arri\ed  at  the  spot  where  the  hunter  was 
impatiently  waitins;  for  him.  Hei-e  he  skinned  the  Porcupine,  and  turn- 
ed  the  skin  entirely  inside  out,  so  that  the  quills  were  all  vJithin,  and 
then  no  longer  fearing  to  handle  the  skin,  it  was  secured  to  the  saddle  of 
his  horse,  and  the  carcass  thrown  away. 

A  Porcupine  that  was  confined  for  some  time  in  the  garret  of  a  build- 
ing  in  Br.  -Iway,  New-Yorlc,  in  which  Peale's  Museum  was  formerly 
kept,  made  its  escape  by  gnawing  a  hole  in  a  corner  of  the  garret  and 
(as  was  supposed,)  got  on  to  the  roof,  from  whence  it  tumbled  into  the 
Htreet,  either  by  a  direct  fall  from  this  elevation,  or  by  pitching  on  to  some 
Tooi  m  the  rear  of  the  main  buildin-  and  thence  into  Murray-street.  It 
was  brought  the  next  day  to  the  museum  for  sale,  as  a  great  curiosity 
The  man  who  br-ought  it,  of  course  not  knowing  from  whence  it  came, 
aid  that  early  in  the  morning,  he  (being  a  watchman)  was  attracted  by 
a  crowd  in  the  Park,  and  on  approaching  discovered  a  strange  animal 
which  no  one  could  catch  ;  he  got  a  basket,  however,  and  captured  the 
beast,  which  he  very  naturally  carried  off  to  the  imtck-house,  thinking  of 
course  no  place  of  greater  security  for  any  vagrant  existed  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood. 

On  an  explanation  before  the  keeper  of  the  museum,  instead  of  the 
police  justices,  and  on  payment  of  half  a  dollar,  the  Porcupine  was  a-ain 
restored  to  his  friends.  He  was  now,  however,  watched  more  closely, 
and  bits  of  sheet  tin  were  frequently  nailed  in  difTereiit  parts  of  the  room' 
on  v/hich  he  had  a  predilection  lor  trying  his  large  teeth. 

We  have  mentioned  in  our  article  on  the  Canada  lynx,  that  one  ol 
those  animals  was  taken  in  the  woods  in  a  dying  state,  owing  to  its 
mouth  being  filled  with  Porcupine  quills.  We  have  heard  of  many  do-s 
some  wolves,  and  at  least  one  panther,  that  were  found  dead,  in  conle' 
quence  of  inflammation  produced  by  seizing  on  the  Porcupine. 

Its  nest  is  found  in  hollow  trees  or  in  caves  under  rocks  It  pro- 
duces its  young  in  April  or  May,  generally  two  at  a  litter;  we  have 
however  heard  that  three,  and  on  one  occasion  four,  had  been  found  in 
a  nest. 

The  Indians  residing  in  the  North,   make  considerable  use  of  the  quills 
of  the  Porcupine;   moccasins,  shot-pouches,   Ivaskets  made  of  birch  bark 
&c.,  are  ingeniously  ornamented  with  them,   for  which  purpose  they  are 
dyed  of  various  bright  colours. 

The  fle.sh  of  this  species  is  sometimes  eaten,  and  is  said  to  have  the 
taste  of  flabby  pork. 

The  following  information  respecting  the  Porcupine  was  received  by 
'is  from  our  kind  friend  William  Case,  Esq.,  of  Cleveland.  Ohio.     "This 


fi 


m 


«r~ 


286 


CANADA  PORCUPINE 


animal  was  several  ynars  since  (bcforo  my  shootinp  days)  vory  ahundnnl 
in  this  iTfjion,  the  CoimccliiMil  Wt-sfcrn  ({cscrvr  ;  and  no  umrv  than  ten 
years  nan  oi.e  person  killed  seven  or  eijilit  in  llie  eonrse  of  an  aClernoonN 
hunt,  lor  sciuirrels,  within  tiiree  or  I'onr  miles  of  this  city,  whih-  now 
prohahly  one  eould  not  \h\  lound  in  a  month.  They  are  rapidly  heeom- 
in>?  extinct ;  the  chief  reason  is  prohahly  the  extreme  hatred  all  hiniters 
hear  (hem  on  account  of  the  injuries  their  'itiills  inflict  on  their  dogs. 
They  do  not  hihernat(%  neither  do  1  tliink  they  a^^  particularly  conlincd 
to  their  hollow  trees  during  the  coId(!st  days  in  winter.  Their  move- 
ments irom  tree  to  tree  in  search  of  food  (hrowsc;  and  hark)  are  rather 
slow  and  awkward:  their  track  in  i.  .  snow  very  much  resemhies  that  of 
»\  child  (with  the  aid  of  imafrination). 

"They  most  delisht   in  hrowsing  and  barking?  young  and  thritVy  Elms, 
fall ',  are  generally  plenty  in  Elm  or  Bass-woad  Swail." 


e.EOfiRArmUAL     niSTRIBUTlON. 


This  species,  according  to  Richardhon,  has  been  met  with  as  farnorth 
fts  the  IVIackenzie  river,  in  latitude  (>7°.  It  is  found  across  the  continent 
from  Labrador  to  the  Uocky  Mountains,  and  is  tolerably  abundant  in  the 
woody  portions  of  the  western  part  of  Missouri.  To  us  this  has  been 
rather  a  rare  species  in  the  Atlantic  districts  ;  we  having  seldom  met 
with  it  in  the  Northern  and  Eastern  States.  It  is  found,  however,  in  the 
northern  and  western  parts  of  New- York,  and  is  said  to  be  increasing 
in  some  of  the  western  counties  of  that  State.  Dr.  Leonard,  of  Lansmg- 
burgh,  recently  obtained  specimens  from  the  mountains  of  Vermont.  It 
exists  sparingly  in  the  mountains  of  the  northern  jjortion  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  in  a  few  localities  in  Ohio  ;  we  obtained  it  on  the  TTppcr  Missouri. 
T>Ewia  and  Clarke  have  net  enumerated  it  as  one  of  the  species  inhabit- 
ing the  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

It  does  not  exist  in  the  southern  parts  of  New-York  or  Pennsylvania. 

Dekay  (Nat.  Hist,  of  New-York,  p.  70)  states,  that  it  is  fonnd  in  the 

northern  parts  of  Virginia   and  Kentucky.     We  however  sought  for  it 

without  success  in  the  mountains  of  A'^irginia,  and  could  never  hear  oi 

t'l  existence  in  Kentucky. 


287 


LEPUS    AQUATICUS.-Bacii. 

Swamp-IIare. 
PLATK  XXXVII.-Mali. 

LI  Americani  magnitudine  ,  caj.ite.  auribun,  ctudarjue  longis  ;  pedu 
ousjong.  mmus  pilosi.  quam  in  L.  s.lvatieo ;   supra  fuscu!;   su'btos 

CHARACTERS. 

».«»/(*.  «br*r„  Wc;  /„„,;,  „»r,,  „n,l  ,.,:,,  h„^ ,  f„,,  fo„.  ,„, 
.«.  „,„,  *,„.  ,4  ,„  ,„»c  „fU.  sr..,  r..m, ,  4.w;„4  '„,.ru'JZ 
tsh-hrown  above,  white  beneath.  *^ 

BYNONVMEfl. 

I^i-us  AuUA-ncuH,  Hach..  Journal  Acad.  Nat.  Sc,  Philud     vol  vii     „   2   „  .,0 
read  Marcli  21,  1837.  '  "nau.,  vol.  vii.,  p.  ^,  p.  j^j^, 

Upus  Douolasbii,  var.  1.  Gray.  Mag.«ino  Nat.  Hist.,  London,  November.  1837 

DESCRIPTION. 

The  bcciy  of  this  .pecies  i.s  large,  and  formed  both  fur  stren-h  and 
speed;  the  hairs  dc  not  hang  as  loosely  .n  the  surface  as  tho.se  of  .he 
Northern  hare,  but  lie  smooth  and  co.npact ;  the  fur  is  coarser  and  more 
glos.sy  than  that  of  the  gray  rabbit. 

Head,  long,  and  moderately  arched;  skull,  considerably  larger  than 
that  of  the  Northern  hare,  (..  Americn.^.^  .ith  a  larger  orbitaf  cat  ty 
The  margms  of  the  orbits  project  so  as  to  produce  a  visible  depression 
n  the  anterior  part  of  the  frontal  bone  ;  whiskers,  half  the  length  of  the 
head  ;  ears.  long,  shaped  like  those  of  the  marsh-hare,  clothed  externalh 
with  a  dense  coat  of  very  short  hairs ;  internally,  they  are  partialK 
covered  along  the  margin.s,  but  ncare-  the  orifice  are  nearly  nakel  ' 

The  feet  bear  no  resemblance  to  those  of  the  No.thrrn  hare  or  those 
of  the  gray  rabbit.  Instead  of  being  clothed,  as  in  tho.e  species  with 
a  compact  mass  of  hair,  they  are  formed  like  those  of  the  m-.rsh!hare  • 
the  toes,  when  spread,  leaving  distinct  impressions  on  the  earth.     The' 


288 


SWAMl'-HARE. 


fore-toes  are  long,  and  their  claws  large  and  considerably  curved ;  m. 
the  hi.id-feet,  the  claws  are  very  stout  and  broad,  nearly  double  the  size 
ofthoseofthe  Northern  hare.  .,.,,       ,  ,u  j 

The  tail  is  rather  long  for  the  genus,  upturned,  and  thickly  clothed  on 
both  surfaces  with  long  fur. 

COLOUR. 

Teeth   yellowish- white;  the  whole  of  the  upper  part  of  the  body  light 
brownish-yellow,  blotched  on  the  surface  with  black;  in  the  winter  the 
whole  of  the  back  and  the  sides  of  tae  head  become  brownish-black, 
with  here  and  there  a  mixture  of  reddish-brown  visible  on  the  surface ; 
the  fur  beneath  the  long  hairs  is  dark  plumbeous,  tipped  with  black. 
The  Ion-  hairs,  when  examined  singly,  are  dark-blue  at  the  roots,  then 
hght  buir,  and  are  pointed  with  black.     Behind  the  ears,  rufous,  with  a 
stripe  of  a  similar  colour  extending  to  the  shoulders.     A  line  around  the 
eves  light  reddish-buir.     Upper  lip,  chin,  and  belly,  white,  tinged  with 
blue      Nails,  in  a  winter  specimen  of  a  young  male,  dark-brown ;  in  an 
old  female  procured  in  summer,  yellowish;  whiskers,  black;  inner  sur- 
face  of  the  ears,  light  grayish- ^hite  ;  outer  surface,  above,  edged  with 
black ;  under  surtace  of  the  tail,  pure  white. 

DIMENSIONS. 

(The  following  measurements  were  taken  by  Dr.   Leb,  of  Alabama, 
from  a  specimen  in  the  tlesh.) 

Length  from  point  of  nose  to  insertion  of  tail 

of  head 

"        of  ears,  posteriorly  .        -        -         ■ 

Height  to  shoulder 

Lengih  of  the  hind-foot 

«  "      middle  hind-claw 

"        of  tail  (vertebra;)  -        -        " 

"        of  tail,  including  fur        -         -         - 
Weight  of  a  female  killed  in  the  spring,  (when  suckling  its  young,  and 
not  in  good  condition,)  Olbs. 

IIABITH. 

The'habits  of  this  animal  are  very  singular,  diifori.ig  in  one  remark- 
able  peculiarity  from  those  of  any  o.acr  species  of  hare  yet  known,  with 
the  exception  of  the  marsh-hare.  Although  the  Swa.np-1  are  is  occa- 
sionally  .een  on  high  .round,  in  the  de.ise   lores..  ..    prele.s   low   and 


20    inches. 
4i     do. 


3i 
11 

3 


do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 


SWAMP-HARL. 


289 


<:  I 


marshy  places,  or  the  neighbourhood  of  streams  and  ponds  of  water  to 
which  it  is  fond  of  resorting.  It  swims  with  great  facility  from  one  little 
islet  to  another,  and  is  generally  found  seeking  its  food  in  wet  places  or 
near  the  w.ter,  as  it  subsists  on  the  roots  of  various  kinds  of  aquatic 
plants.  .«pHniaily  on  a  species  of  iris  growing  in  the  water. 

Persons  wno  have  given  us  information  on  the  subject  of  this  hare    in 
form  us,  that  when  first  started,  and  whilst  running,  its  tramplngs'  are 
louder,  and  can  be  heard  at  u  greater  distance,  than  those  of  any  other 
harp.  "^ 

AS  it  suddenly  leaps  or  bounds  from  its  hiding  place  ere  it  is  seen  u 
IS  apt  to  startle  the  rambler  who  has  intruded  upon  its  solitary  retreat 
and  he  may  be  impressed  with  the  belief  that  he  has  started  a  youn^ 
deer.  When  chased  by  dogs,  the  S  .vamp-IIarc  runs  with  great  swiftness" 
and  IS  able  to  escape  from  them  without  difficulty;  but  it  almost  invari- 
ably directs  its  flight  towards  the  nearest  ponu,  as  if  led  by  instinct  to 
seek  an  element  in  which  all  traces  of  its  scent  are  soon  lost  to  its  eager 
pursuers.  There  is  a  specimen  of  the  Swamp-Hare,  which  we  added  to 
the  collection  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences,  Philadelphia,  con- 
siderably larger  than  the  Northern  hare;  this  individual,  on  being  pur- 
sued by  hounds,  swam  twice  across  the  Alabama  river,  and  was  not 
captured  till  it  had  finally  retreated  to  a  hollow  tree. 

We  have  been  informed  that  it  is  a  very  common  habit  of  this  species 
when  pursued,  to  swim  to  the  edge  of  some  stream  or  pond,  retreat  be- 
neath the  overhanging  roots  of  the  trees  that  may  be  growing  on  its  bor- 
der or  seek  for  a  .ecure  shelter  under  the  hollows  made  by  the  washing 
of  the  banks  The  swiftness  of  foot  possessed  by  this  Hare,  and  the  stra^ 
tagems  to  which  it  is  capable  of  resorting,  might  easily  enable  it  to  elude 
pursuit  but  for  this  habit  of  seeking  for  shelter  as  soon  as  it  is  chased 
which  IS  the  cause  of  its  being  frequently  captured. 

When  the  waters  in  the  swamps  are  low,  it  seeks  the  f.rst  hollow  tree 
where  .t  is  easily  secured.  In  this  manner.  Major  Lkk  inibrmed  us,  tha; 
mhis  vicimty  the  boys  and  the  domestics  eaught  thirty  or  forty  in  three 

The  young  of  this  hare  are  frequently  found  in  nests  formed  of  leave, 
and  grasses,  placed  on  hillocks  in  the  swamps,  or  in  the  hollow  of  some 
alien  tree.     We  have  been  informed  timt  it  produces    young  at  least 
twice  in  a  season,  and  from  four  to  six  at  a  litter. 

GEOOSAPIIfiMt,     DINTRIDUTION. 

We  have  not  heard  of  the  existence  of  this  animal  to  the  oast  or  nortn 
of  the  Stale  ol    Alaban.a.   but  it  is   numerous   in  all   the  sw.unp,  „|   uu- 


-■\^-tnmH' 


290 


SWAMP-HARK 


i  i 


i-^ 


western  part  of  that  State,  is  still  more  abundant  in  the  Slate  of  Missis- 
sipi)i,  and  in  the  lower  part  of  Louisiana,  and  is  frequently  brought  by 
the  Indians  to  the  ninrUet  of  New  Orleans.  It  was  also  obtained  in 
Texas  by  Douoimss  and  by  J.  W.  Audubon.  Gray  states  that  it  exists  in 
Cnlii'ornia  ;  we  have  how<'ver  carefully  inquired  into  the  history  of  the 
specimen  in  the  British  Museum,  which  was  received  after  the  melan- 
choly death  of  Douolash,  and  have  reasor  to  believe  that  the  label  was 
accidentally  misplaced,  and  that  it  came  from  the  eastern  portion  of 
Texas. 


OBNERAI.    REMARKS. 

Although  all  our  hares  bear  a  stronj];  resemblance  to  each  other, 
particularly  in  their  sunun»'r  colours,  yet  all  hav(;  dKlerent  marks,  by 
which  they  can,  with  a  little  attention,  be  distiiifi;uished.  The  present 
species,  in  its  colour  on  the  upper  surface  and  in  its  aquatic  habits,  is 
closely  assimilated  to  the  marsh-hare  ;  it  diliers,  however,  very  widely  in 
other  respects.  ' 

The  Swamp-TIare  is  a  third  larger  than  the  marsh-hare  ;  the  largest 
specimen  of  the  latter  in  more  than  fifty  that  we  measured,  was  only 
fourteen  inches  long,  whilst  the  largest  Swamji-llare  was  twetify-two 
inches,  and  we  are  i-.formed  that  it  is  often  nuieh  larger.  The  tail  of  the 
marsh-hare  is  exceedingly  short,  its  verfebne  being  not  more  than  an 
inch  long,  whilst  that  of  the  present  species  is  two  inches  and  an  eighth, 
b-ing  moio  than  double  the  length.  The  ears  diller  in  the  same  propor- 
tion. The  ui.f'er  surface  of  the  fail  of  tlie  marsh-hare  is  ash-coloured 
mixed  wiih  brown,  whilst  that  of  \\w  present  species  is  pure  white.  Its 
ft>et  are  thinly  covered  with  hair,  an<l  its  toes  (which  are  capable  of 
l)eing  widely  spread)  are  well  adapted  to  enable  it  to  swim,  and  to  pass 
over  marshy  and  uuiddy  places. 

The  tracks  of  this  species,  a?i(l  of  the  luarsh-hare,  in  the  mud,  leave  a 
distinct  impression  of  the  foes ;  whilst  on  the  contr.ary  the  tracks  of  the 
gray  rabbit,  the  Northern  hare,  and  the  Polar  hare,  exhibit  no  such 
tr.ices,  their  feet  being  so  thickly  clothed  with  long  hair  that  even  the 
points  of  the  nails  are  scarcely  ix-rccptible.  The  |)rescnt  species  is 
larger  than  the  gray  rabbit,  being  very  nearly  the  size  of  tlu^  Northern 
tiare,  which  it  probably  exceeds  in  weight.  Indeed,  the  Northern  hare 
and  this  species,  when  divested  of  their  hides,  are  very  nearly  equal  in 
size;  but  the  fur  of  the  former  being  loose  and  long,  whilst  that  of  the 
pres«>nt  species  lies  compact  and  smooth,  the  Northern  hare  appears  to 
be  the  larger  of  the  two.     This  species  <lill'ers  from  the  gray  rabbit  in 


SWAMP-IIARE. 


291 


other  particulars;  whilst  the  points  of  the  hair  in  the  latter  animal  be- 

''^ZfT"'  "  "'T'  ''"'  "'  *'  ^"^'^-P-H-^  hecome  jet-black; 
whilst  the  gray  rabbit  strenuously  avoids  water,  the  present  specie* 
plunges  fearlessly  into  it,  and  finds  it  a  congenial  element 


292 


SCIURUS    FERRUGINlVENTRIS.-AuD.  and  Bach. 

Red-Bellied  Squirrel. 

PLATE  XXXVIIl.— Male,  Femalk,  and  Youno. 

Sc.  Caroliniano  paullulum  minor ;  cauda  corpore  longiore ;  vellere 
supra  albo-cinereo.  infra  rufo,  armis  iuscis. 

CHARACTERS. 

A  size  smaller  than  the  Carolina  gray  squirrel ;  tail,  longer  than  the 
body;  light  gray  aboDe,  reddish-brown  on  the  shoulders,  beneath,  bright 
rufous. 

I 

SYNONYME. 

S01URU8  Ferruoinivkntris,  Aud.  and  Bach.,  Jour.  Acad,  of  Nat.  Sc,  Philadelphia, 
read  October  6,  1841. 


DESCRIPTION. 


This  species  in  form  bears  some  resemblance  to  the  Carolina  gray 
squirrel,  but  differs  widely  from  it  in  colour.  The  forohead  is  arched ; 
nose,  rather  sharp,  clothed  with  short  fur ;  eyes,  of  mo-'lerate  size  ;  whisk- 
ers, as  long  as  the  head  ;  ears,  rather  long,  broad  at  base,  ovate  in  shape. 

The  body  is  slender,  seeminjjly  formed  for  an  agility  equalling  that  of 
Sciurus  Hudsonius.  It  is  covered  with  a  soft  thick  coat  of  fur,  inter- 
mixed with  longer  hairs. 

The  feet  are  rather  robust.  Like  all  the  squirrels,  it  has  a  blunt  nail 
in  place  of  a  thumb,  and  the  third  toe,  counting  from  the  inner  side,  is 
longest ;  palms,  nearly  naked. 

The  tail  is  long,  and  capable  of  a  distichous  arrangement,  but  the  hairs 
are  not  very  thick  or  bushy. 


COLOUR. 


Teeth,  j^ellow  ;  nails,  brown  ;  point  of  nose  and  whiskers,  black  ;  ears, 
on  the  outer  edges,  tinged  with  brown,  within  gray  ;  behind  the  ears  on 
the  neck  a  line  of  dull  white.  On  the  upper  surAice,  the  head,  neck,  back, 
and  tail,  are  light  gray,  formed  by  hairs  which  are  light  plumbeous  from 


N.-a 


Plate  XXXVIII. 


ihi 


Q-^^^y-?^.///,y.'^L,>>,/ 


nidWiitiorr,  fJaUiu-bv  .1  ]  AuJu))..!!  !■  fi.)  KLS 


i.itlinVtii«lttr,,iM,v  IT  H,,w,.„  rtiil.Ki 


\\  i 


111 


hn 


RED-BELLIKD  SQUIRREL. 


293 


the  roots  to  near  the  tips,  where  they  have  white  and  black  annulations 
most  of  the  hairs  are  tipped  with  white.  From  the  outer  surface  of  the 
fore-legs  there  is  a  reddish-brown  tinge,  which  extends  over  the  shoulders 
and  nearly  meets  on  the  back,  gradually  fading  into  the  colours  of  the 
back  and  neck.  The  hairs  on  the  tail  are  black  at  the  roots,  then  yel- 
lowish, succeeded  by  a  broad  line  of  black  tipped  with  white.  The  feet 
on  the  upper  surface  are  grizzled  with  white  and  black.  Sides  of  the 
face,  chin,  and  throat,  light-gray.  All  the  rest  of  the  under  surface  of  the 
body,  a  line  around  the  eyes,  the  neck,  and  the  inner  surface  of  the  legs, 
are  of  a  uniform  bright  rufous  colour. 


4\ 


Length  of  head  and  body 

tail 
Height  of  ear,  posteriorly 
Length  of  tarsus      - 


DIMENSIONS. 

Inches. 

Lines. 

- 

- 

• 

- 

8 

9 

- 

- 

• 

- 

10 

0 

- 

- 

• 

- 

5 

0 

- 

m 

m 

. 

2 

fi 

HABITS. 

We  are  unfortunately  without  any  information  or  account  of  the  habits 
of  this  singularly  marked  and  bright  coloured  Squirrel.  We  have  re- 
presented three  of  them  in  our  plate  in  different  attitudes  on  a  branch  of 
mulberry. 

GEOGRAPHICAL    DISTRIBUTION. 

Several  specimens,  differing  a  little  in  colour,  which  differences  we 
have  represented  in  our  plate,  were  received  from  California ;  the  pre- 
cise locality  was  not  given. 


GENERAL    REMARKS. 

This  species  should  perhaps  be  compared  with  the  dusky  squirrel 
(S.  nigrescens)  of  Bennet,  to  which  it  bears  some  resemblance.  From 
the  description,  however,  which  we  made  of  the  original  specimen  of  S. 
nigrescem,  deposited  in  the  museum  of  the  London  Zoological  Society, 
we  have  little  hesitation  in  pronouncing  this  a  distinct  species. 

To  Sciurus  socialis  of  Wagner,  (Boitrage  zur  Kenntniss  der  warmblu- 
tigen  Wirbelthiere  Amerikas,  p.  88,  Dresden,)  the  present  species  also 
bears  some  distant  resemblance  but  in  some  of  its  markings  differs 
widely  from  Wagner's  animal. 


inwp 


teji! 


III 


294 


SPERMOPHILUS   TRIDECEM    LLNEATUS.— Mitciiill. 


Leopard-Sperm  jphile. 


PLATE  XXXIX.— Malb  and  Fkmale. 

Magnitudine  Tamiae  Lysteri ;  supra  striis  octo  longitudinalibus  dilute 
fulvis  cum  striis  novem  fulvis  alteniatum  distributis  ;  harum  quinque, 
stria  media  et  duabus  utrinque  proximis  guttis  subalbidis  subquadratus 
distinctis. 

CIIARACTERH. 

Size  of  the  chipping-squirrel  {Tamias   Lysteri) ;  eight  pale  yellowish 
brown  stripes  on  the  back,  which  alternch  with  nine  broader  yellowish-brow^' 
ones;  the  Jive  uppermost  being  marh     with  a  row  of  pale  spots. 

SVN0NYME3. 

Leopard  Ground-Squirrel,  Schoolcraft's  Travels,  p.  313,  and  Index,  anno  1821. 
SciuRua  TitiDECEM  LiNKATus,  Mitchlll,  Med.  Repository,  1821. 
Arctomys  Hoodii,  Sabine,  Linn.  Trans.,  vol.  xiii.,  p.  690,  1822. 

"  "       Franklin's  Jouiney,  p.  663. 

Si'RiPED  AND  Si'OTTED  Ground-Squikuel,  Say,  Long's  Expedition. 
Spermoi'IUle,  F.  Cuvier,  Hist.  Nat.  des  Mamm. 
Arctomys  Tkidecem  Lineata,  Harlan,  Fauna,  p.  164. 
Hood's  Marmot,  Godman,  vol.  ii.,  p.  112. 
Arctomys  Hoodii,  Fischer's  Synopsis,  p.  544. 
Spermophilus  Hoodii,  Less.,  Mamm.,  p.  243,  654. 

"  "       Desmarest,  in  Diet,  des  Sc.  Nat.,  L.  p.  139. 

"  "       F.  Cuv.  et  Geoff.,  Mamm.,  fasc.  46. 

Arctomys  Tridecem  Lineata,  Griffith,  sp.  641. 
Arctomys  (Spermophilus)  Hoodii,  Rich.,  Faunn  Boreali  Ameiicana,  p.  177,  pi.  14. 

DESCRIPTION. 

In  form  this  species  bears  a  considerable  resemblance  to  the  very  com- 
mon chipping  squirrel  of  the  Atlantic  States ;  by  its  shorter  ears,  how- 
ever, and  by  its  longer  nails,  which  are  intended  more  for  digging  than 
climbing,  it  approaches  the  marmots.  The  head  has  a  convex  shape  and 
is  very  much  curved,  especially  from  the  forehead  to  the  nose  ;  ".he  nose 


LEOPARD-SPKRMOPHILE. 


39A 


is  obtuse,  and  with  ihe  exception  of  the  nostrils  anrl  «nn.        • 
c.ered   with  very   short  hairs.     The  2^^1717^  "  T''""'''' 
pouches  of  moderate  size.      Whi  kers  Tlhtl.     1^^  u'    '^'  '^'''^• 

eyes,  large;  ears,  very  short,  o  „  l/J  "  Xot"  'T  I  ''^  '^^' ' 
hind  and  above  the  auditory  ^penir.       I.  T     ^  """  '^'"'*  ^'^'  ^'■ 

Hairs.     The  hair  on  the  w^JC;" '^    I^.::!  J^L^  ^^^^ 

LcgSi.    I  feet,  mther  slcnJer ;  nail.,    „„c   .L|„|„        u  j      ^: 
ndled  beneath  .„„„„,  ,t,i,  „„;„,,    .  "•;^;  ,  f  ,^^^  -'■«'.  -  eW„. 

«..  J..n..,  with  an  „b.u,e  nnil,  ,he  »c„n„  J,  gt '(ti  Z  " 
moph,l«.  and,,,  the  third,  as  in  the  sqtnrel,  ■)  the  fir;  ^  K  "'"■" 
;.f  e,u„,  ,e„.,h,  theron.h  ,hor,e.,  an3  ren,  vl,  f  r  b     ^    T      ^r 

:=itt:„:t,x  :J:,r,::„r/:t:er  d^'  "-- 


m 


COLOUR. 

A  Une  around  me  eye  and  a  »|>„t  beneati      nner  und  outer  ,„rr  , 

he  legs,  and  the  whole  under  part  of  i,  .    I J  .    !?  ,  t 

colour ;  „„  ,!,„  side,  of  the  neck   the  for.  ''  u     .  '    '  ^^  '°'"''' 

the  hips,  there  are  .i:,«e,  .,  rSliltb^o^^rr',       '""I,''""'  """  "" 
.he  under-j„„,  are  dull   „,,„,.     On  .Te™:,      ttl'"""  "'',"^' """ 

sotnewhat    indistinct    nl.ernate    strinc    of  ,  .        ""^''''"  "'"' 

I.ein„.  an  extension  „,  the  „r^  t^Z  h    I      I'-  ."".   »"'-"*-white, 
Mendin.    f  ,h    eolo,,.,  ^Jr^^^^  ll^-tt'  '""  *'  '"-"'" 

.r:o:::r;,.":,:rr- -  --  e„eh  hav., 

™ns  frotn  the  baek  par.  'of  the  iea, ,  l^d  I  „  ;  ^T;  ""T',  ""■"'' 
the  root  of  the  tail,  is  a  li.tle  the  brUs  T:  "  , 'f '^  '"*  "">:'"'■' 
^.separated  fro.  each  other  by  straight  aadlutln,  „'„    'o7;  ,::;T 

"cbally  „„,,„,ed  a  bar  of  blaeh  o^n  Jatle  of  tt'veThl"  "''^"  " 


DIMENSIONS. 


Head  and  body 
Tail  (vertebrjt) 


H  inches. 
3!        fU 


296 


LEOPARD-SI'EHMOPHILE. 


Tail,  to  end  of  hair 
From  heel  to  end  of  nail 
Longest  claw  on  the  fore-foot 

Measurement  of  an  old  female. 
Nose  to  root  of  tail 
Tail  (vertebra') 
Tail,  to  end  of  hair      - 
Fore-feet  to  end  of  claws    - 
Heel  to  end  of  longest  claw 
Nose  to  opening  of  ear 
Length  of  pouch,  to  angle  of  mouth 

Dr.  Richardson  measured  a  male  that  was  nine  inches  to  the  insertion 
of  the  tail.     lie  remarks  that  the  females  are  smaller  than  the  males. 


4i 

inches 

H 

do. 

Of 

do. 

Of 

do. 

3i 

do. 

4| 

do. 

0? 

do. 

1| 

do. 

1} 

do. 

ItV 

do. 

I  i 


HABITS. 

We  believe  it  is  generally  supposed  that  "birds,"  with  their  varied 
and  pleasing  forms,  gay  and  beautiful  plumage,  tuneful  throats,  and 
graceful  movements  through  the  air,  present  greater  attractions  to  the 
student  of  nature  than  "quadrupeds,"  and  awaken  in  him  a  stronger 
desire  to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  their  natures  and  characters  than  he 
may  entertain  to  study  the  habits  of  the  mammalia. 

In  addition,  however,  to  the  fact  that  the  latter  are,  like  ourselves, 
viviparous,  and  approach  our  own  organization,  it  should  be  remem- 
bered that  all  the  productions  of  nature  are  the  work  of  so  infinite  a  wis- 
dom, that  they  must,  in  every  department  of  the  physical  world,  excite 
our  greatest  interest  and  our  admiration,  even  wtien  examined  super- 
ficially. 

Among  0<f  quadrupeds,  there  are  innumerable  varieties  of  form  and 
character;  'j  id  nlthough  most  animals  are  nocturnal,  and  therefore  their 
habits  cannf  t  be  studied  with  the  same  facility  with  which  the  manners 
and  cusloni.5  of  the  lively  diurn.il  species  of  birds  may  be  observed  ;  yet 
when  we  follow  them  in  their  nightly  wanderings,  penetrate  into  their 
retreats,  and  observe  the  sagacity  and  extraordinary  instincts  with  which 
they  are  endowed,  we  find  in  them  matter  to  interest  us  greatly,  and 
arouse  our  curiosity  and  astonishment. 

Owls  seem  to  us  a  dull  and  stupid  race,  principally  because  we  only 
notice  them  during  the  day,  which  nature  requirf;s  them  to  spend  in 
sleep,  the  structure  of  their  eyes  compelluig  them  to  avoid  the  light, 
and  seek   concealment   in   hollow  trees,  in  caves,  and   obscure  retreat* 


■!.*'"»: 


-^',.) 


LEOPARD-SPERMOPHILE.  „q_ 

But  we  should   recollect  that  the  diurnal   birds  are.  during   „i,hf    the 
tune   for    he.r  repose,  as  dull  and  stupid  as  owls  are  dur^g  the  dly 

at  w  1  str  k  '■'  '"'  '^''^'"'"'^'  '"'^'•^'»««'  ^'^-^  -«  ™-y 

The  H  7'  :   '^  '"  ■'     ""'^"  '''''-'''''  '^•^  -"--%  heautiful 

The  h.tle  anunal  whicu  i«       e  presented  to  you  is  one  of  this  dr^.rin 

r  gulanty  of  its  hnes  .    !    ^  .,.,  and  in  the  soil  blendings  of  its  various 
s  adeso,  colour    we  have  evidence  that  even  species  whose  hab  ta 
are  under  ground,  may  present  to  the  eye  as  rich  and  beautiful  a  vesture 
as  ,s  found  ,n  the  garb  of  a  majority  of  the  lively  songsters  of  the  wIodT 
In  the   warm  days  ol  spring  the  traveller  on  our  Western  prairies  is 
often  diverted  i  om  the  contemplation  of  larger  animals,  to  wat  h  th 
movements  of  this  lively  little  species.     He   withdraws  hi;  attention  T 
a  moment  fn,m  the  bellowing  buffalo  herd  that  is  scampering  over  the 
prame,  to  fix  his  eyes  on  a  lively  little  creature  of  exc,uis=te   beauty 
seated  on  a  d.m.nut.ve  mound   at  the  mouth  of  its  burrow,  which  seems 
by  Its  ch,rrupmgs  and  scoldings  to  warn  away  the  intruder  on  its  peace- 
ful domams.     On  a  nearer  approach  it  darts  into  its  hole  ;   but  although 
concealed  f.om  view,  and  out  of  the  reach  of  danger,  its  tongue,  like  that 

to  vent  Its  threats  of  resentment  againt  its  unwelcome   visitor  by  a  shrill 
and  harsh  repetition  of  the  word  "seek— seek." 

There  is  a  great  similarity  in  the  habits 'of  the  various  spermophili 
that  compose  the  mteresting  group  to  which  the  present  species  belongs. 

They  live  principally  on  the  open  prairies,  make  their  burrows  in  the 
earth,  and  feed  on  roots  and  seeds  of  various  kinds,  which  they  carry  in 
their  pouches  to  their  dark  retreats  under  ground.  " 

The  holes  of  this  species,  according  to  R.c„ar„son,  run  nearly  per- 
pendicularly.  and  are  so  straight,  that  they   will  admit  a  stick  to  be  in 
d;nttlf  !h       f '"'  ^--  or  five   feet.     He  supposes  that  owing  to  the 
depth  of  their  burrows,   which  the  sun  does  not  penetrate  .cry   early  in 
spring,  they  do  not  make  their  appearance  as  early  ..  some  others,  espe- 

As  soon  as  they  feel  the  warmth  of  spring  they  come  forth  and  go 
m  viest  of  thr.r  mates  ;  at  this  period  they  seem  fearless  of  dan^rpr  ard 
are  easily  captured  by  the  beasts  and  birds  of  prey  that  frequen;  the 
plmns.     The  males  are  said  to  be  very  pugnacious  at  this  season. 

This  IS  believed  to  be  the  most  active  and  lively  of  all  our  known 
spee.es  of  marmot-squirrels;  we  recently  observed  one  in  Nev-Yoric 
that   playe,!   in   n    wheel    in   the   manner  of  the   squirrel        We   saw   in 


4 


m 


1  i 
'I 


i.*iXSL 


!     f 

!   i 


I     ! 
f     ! 


298 


LEOPARD-SPERMOPHILE. 


Charleston  a  pair  in  a  cage,  that  were  brought  from  Missouri  by  ar 
officer  of  the  army.  They  weve  aduUs,  had  but  recently  been  captured 
and  were  rather  wild.  They  seemed  to  keep  up  a  constant  angrj 
querulous  chattering ;  ff-  ■  were  fed  on  various  kinds  of  nuts  and 
grains,  but  principally  v  leal  and  pea  or  ground-nuts,  {Arachis 

kypogcea.)     They  would  to  the  bars  of  the  cage  and  take  a  nut 

from  the  hand,  but  woi  "vi  luen  make  a  hasty  retreat  to  a  little  box  in 
the  corner  of  their  domicile.  On  our  placing  a  handful  of  filberts  in 
front  of  the  cage,  they  at  first  came  out  and  carried  off  one  by  one  to 
their  store-house ;  but  after  we  had  retired  so  as  not  to  be  observed, 
they  filled  their  pouches  by  the  aid  of  their  paws,  and  seemed  to  prefer 
this  mode  of  transporting  their  provisions.  As  we  were  desirous  of 
taking  measurements  and  descriptions,  we  endeavoured  to  hold  one  in 
the  hand  by  the  aid  of  a  glove,  but  it  struggled  so  lustily  and  used  its 
teeth  so  savagely  that  we  were  compelled  to  let  it  go. 

This  species  frequently  takes  up  its  residence  near  the  fields  and  gar- 
dens of  the  settlers ;  and  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Fort  Union  and  other 
places,  was  represented  as  particularly  destructive  to  the  gardens. 

We  found  the  Leopard-Spermophile  quite  abundant  near  Fort  Union, 
on  the  Upper  Missouri.  Their  burrows  were  made  in  a  sandy  gravelly 
soil ;  they  were  never  deep  or  inclined  il  wnvvards,  but  ran  horizontally 
within  about  a  foot  of  the  surface  of  the  earth.  This  difference  in  habit 
from  those  observed  by  Richardson  may  be  owing  to  the  nature  of  the 
different  soils.  We  dug  some  of  their  burrows  and  discovered  that  the 
holes  ran  in  hU  directions,  containing  many  furcations. 

Richardson  states  that  "  the  males  fight  when  they  meet,  and  in  their 
contests  their  tails  are  often  mutilated."  All  the  specimens,  however, 
that  we  obtained,  were  peifect  and  in  good  order. 

The  Leopard-Spermophile  has  two  more  teats  than  are  found  in  the 
majority  of  the  specirs  of  this  genus,  and  hence  it  may  be  expected  to 
produce  an  additional  number  of  young.  Richardson  informs  us  that  ten 
young  were  taken  from  a  female  killed  at  Carlton  House.  This  \nas  on 
the  17th  Mivy,  and  we  from  hence  presume  that  they  produce  their  young 
soon  alter  this  period. 

OBOUHAI'HICAI.    UISTKIUUTION. 

We  have  not  heard  of  the  existence  of  this  species  lartlusr  to  the  north 
tlian  latitude  55°.  It  was  found  by  Sav  at  Engineer  Encampment  on 
the  Missouri ;  we  found  it  at  Fort  Union,  latitude  40°  40  ;  and  it  is  said 
to  extend  along  the  prairies  on  the  Eastern  side  of  the  Rocky  Mountains 
i'ltr,  Mexico. 


m 


LEOPARD-SPERMOPHILE. 


299 


GENERAI,    REMARKS 

The  name  triderem  limatus  (thirteeA  lined)  is  not  particularly  eupho- 
nious,  nor  very  characteristic;  yet  as  it  has  in  conformity  with  long 
established  usages  existing  among  naturalists,  been  admitted  into  our 
standard  works,  we  have  concluded  to  adopt  it. 

The  figures  given  by  Sabine  and  F.  Cuvier  of  this  species  are  defec 
tive,  each  having  been  taken  from  a  specimen  in  which  the  tail  had 
been  mutiJated.  That  given  by  RicHARnsoN.  Fauna  boreali  Americana, 
drawn  by  Landseer,  is  more  characteristic. 


300 


•      MUS   LEUCOPUS.— Rafinesqur 

American  White-Footed  Mouse. 

PLATE  XL. — Malb,  Female,  and  Youno. 

Cauda    elongata,    villosa ;    auribus  magnis ;    supra   fulvo-tuscesci-ns 
subtus  albus  ;  pedibus  albis. 

CHARACTERS. 

Tail,  long  and  hairy ;   ears,  large ;   yellowish   broum  above ;  feet  and 
lower  parts  of  the  body,  white. 

BVNONVMES. 

Mus  Sylvaticus,  Forster,  Phil.  Trann.,  vol.  h'u.,  p,  380. 
Field-Rat,  Penn.,  Hist.  Quad.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  I'uS. 

"  Arctic  Zool.,  vol.  i.,  p.  l.Tl. 

McscuLUS  Leucoi'us,  Rafinosque,  Amer.  Month.  Review,  Oct.  1818,  p.  144. 
Mus  Lkdcopcs,  Desmar.  Mamnr,.,  esp.  493. 
Mcs  Sylvaticus,  Harlan,  Fauna,  p.  ITA. 
MuH  Agrarius,  Godm.,  Nat.  Hi&t.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  88. 
Mrs  Leucdpus,  Richardson,  F.  B.  A.,  p.  142. 
Ahvicola  Nuttallii,  Harlan,  variety. 
Auvicola  Emmonsii,  lilmm.,  Ma.ss.  Report,  p.  01. 
Mus  Leucopus,  Dekay,  Na;.  Hist.  N.  Y.,  pi.  1,  p.  82. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Head,  of  moderate  size  ;  muzzle,  sharp  pointed  ;  eyes,  large  ;  ears, 
large,  membranous,  rounded  above,  nearly  naked.  There  are  a  few 
short  hairs  on  the  margins,  on  both  surfaces,  not  sufficient  to  conceal  the 
integument.     Whiskers,  longer  than  the  head. 

The  form  of  this  species  is  delicate  and  of  fine  proportions;  the  fur 
(which  is  not  very  long)  is  soft  and  fine,  but  not  lustrous. 

Feet,  slender,  and  clothed  with  short  adpressed  hairs,  covering  the  toes 
and  nails ;  there  are  four  toes  on  the  fore-feet,  with  six  tubercles  on 
each  palm  ;  the  thumb  is  rudimentary,  and  covered  by  a  very  small 
blunt  nail.  The  nails  are  small,  shar, ,  and  hooked  ;  the  hind-feet  arc 
long,  especially  the  tarsal  bones  ;  the  toes  are  longer  than  on  the  fore 
feet.     The  tail  is  round,  slender,  tapering,  and  thickly  clothed  with  shon 


AMERICAN  WHITE-FOOTED  MOUSE.  3Q. 

hairs;  no  scales  being  visible  like  those  on  the  eommon  mouse.  (Mas 
musculus.)  '  ^ 

COLOUR. 

Fur,  from  the  roots  to  near  the  extremity,  dark  bluish-gray ;  on  the 
upper  parts,  brownish  yellow;  being  a  little  darker  on  the  erown  and 
baek,  and  lighter  on  the  sides;  the  colour  of  the  cheeks  and  hips  ap- 
proaches   reddish-brown.       The    above    is  the    colour    of  this    species 

nZs      ^r-T  "'  ""'"  ''  '^'^'^  '*^  ""'''  ''^^«  '"^  ^P""«"'  -hen  it  as- 
sumes   a  blmsh-gray   tmt,   a  little   lighter  than  that   of  the    common 

mouse.      Whiskers,    white    and  black;    upper   surface  of  the  tail,  the 
colour  of  the  back.     The  lips,  chin,   throat,  feet,  legs,  and  the  ^hol 
under  surface  of  the  body  and  tail,  are  pure  white.     On  the  sides    this 
colour  extends  high  up  along  the  flanks;  there  is  a  very  distinct  line  of 
demarcation  between  the  colours  of  the  back  and  sides 

There  are  some  varieties  in  this  species ;  specimens  which  we  ex- 
amined, irom  Labrador,  Hudson's  Bay,  and  Oregon,  were  lighter  in 
colour  ana  the  white  on  the  under  surface  extended  farther  toward  tl^e 
back    than  on  those  from  the  Atlantic  States;  we  also  observed  a  strik 

odv  whit"  2         '^"'^'  ''  '''"  '''-'  ''""^  ''-'  ^-^-  *»^-  ^ '« 
body,  whilst  others  were  not  much  more  than  half  the  length.     In  size 

hey  also  differ  widely ;  we  have  seen  some  that  are  scarcely  larger  than 

the  common  mouse,  whilst  others  are  nearly  double  that  sL ;  they  are 

considerably  larger  in  Carolina  than  in  the  Eastern  States. 


DIMENSIONS. 


fyflrt^h  of  head  and  body 
"  tail     . 
Another  specimen. 

I^ength  of  head  and  body 
"  tail     . 


2J  inches. 
2i      do. 

Si      do. 
3|       do. 


HABIT*, 


Next  to  the  common  mouse,  this  is  the  most  abundant  and  widely  dif- 
fus  d  .pec.es  of  mouse  in  NoHl.   Anu  rica.     We  have  received  it  (under 
various  names)  from  every  State  in  the  llni...  .„d  from  Labrador  H 
ons  Bay.  and  the  Columbia  River.     B.i„.  ,K.n.r„al  i„  its  habit's  It  i' 
ar  more  eommon  than   is  gener.ry  «u,>posed.      In  familiar  locaii   e 
v^icre  we  had  never  known  of  it.  .xisten.e.  we  found  it  almost    he 
only  species  taken  in  traps  at  night. 


1 

i 

\ 
i 

4 

^1 

W2 


AMERICAN  WHITE-FOOTED  MOUSE. 


The  White-footed  Mouse  is  an  exceedingly  active  species.  It  runs 
leaps,  and  climbs,  with  great  facility.  We  have  observed  it  taking  up 
its  abode  in  a  deserted  squirrel's  nest,  thirty  feet  from  the  earth ;  we 
have  seen  a  family  of  five  or  six  scamper  from  a  hollow  in  an  oak  that 
had  just  been  cut  down ;  we  have  frequently  found  them  in  the  loft  ot 
a  corn-house  or  stable  in  Carolina ;  and  at  times  have  discovered  their 
nests  unde>-  stone-heaps  or  old  logs,  or  in  the  ground. 

In  New-Jersey  their  favourite  resorts  are  isolated  cedars  growing  on 
the  margins  of  damp  places,  where  green  briars  {Smilax  rotundifolio  and 
-S.  hcrbncca)  connect  the  branches  with  the  ground,  and  along  the  stems 
of  which  they  climb  expertly. 

When  started  from  their  nests  in  these  trees,  they  descend  along  the 
vines  in  safety  to  the  earth.  When  thus  disturbed,  however,  if  the  nest 
is  at  some  distance  from  the  ground,  they  hesitate  before  they  come 
down,  and  go  out  on  a  branch  perhaps,  to  scrutinize  the  vicinity,  and,  if 
not  farther  molested,  appear  satisfied,  and  again  retreat  to  their  nests. 
rhey  have  been  known  to  take  possession  of  deserted  bird's  nests— such 
as  those  of  the  cat-bird,  red-winged  starling,  song  thrush,  or  red-eyed  fly- 
catcher. 

In  the  northern  part  of  New- York  we  could  always  obtain  specimens 
from  under  the  sheaves  of  wheat  that  were  usually  stacked  in  the 
harvest  fields  for  a  few  days  before  they  were  carried  into  the  barn.  We 
have  also  occasionally  found  their  nests  on  bushes,  from  five  to  fifteen 
feet  from  the  ground.  They  are  in  these  cases  constructed  with  nearly 
as  much  art  and  ingenuity  as  the  nests  of  the  Baltimore  Oriole.  There 
are  several  nests  now  lying  before  us,  that  were  found  near  Fort  Lee, 
New-Jersey.  They  are  seven  inches  in  length  and  four  in  breadth,  the' 
circumference  measuring  thirteen  inches ;  they  are  of  an  oval  shape  and 
are  outwardly  composed  of  dried  moss  and  a  few  slips  of  the  inner  bark 
of  some  wild  grape-vine ;  other  nests  are  more  rounded,  and  are  com- 
posed  of  dried  leaves  and  moss.  We  have  sometimes  thought  that  two 
pair  of  these  Mice  might  occupy  the  same  nest,  as  we  possess  one,  nine 
inches  in  length  and  eight  inches  in  diameter,  which  has  two  entrances, 
six  inches  apart,  so  that  in  such  a  case  the  little  tenants  need  not  have 
interfered  with  each  other.  The  entrance  in  all  the  nests  is  from  below, 
and  about  the  size  of  the  animal. 

When  we  first  discovered  (his  kind  of  nest  we  were  at  a  loss  to  decide 
whether  it  belonged  to  a  bird  or  a  quadruped  ;  on  touching  the  bnah, 
however,  we  saw  the  little  tenant  of  this  airy  domicile  escape.  At  our 
next  visit  she  left  the  nest  so  clumsily  and  made  her  way  along  the 
ground  so  slowly,  that  we  took  her  up  in  our  hand,  when  we  diseovered 


I,  I 


AMERICAN  WHITE-FOOTED  MOUSE. 


303 


I 


ha   she  had  four  young  about  a  fourth  grown,  adhering  so  firmly  to  the 
eats  that  she  dragged  them  along  in  the  manner  .>f  the  jumping' mo 
(Menones  Amcr^canus),  or  of  the  Florida  rat.     We  preserved  this  1  tt L 
farnUy  ahve   or  eighteen  months,  during  which  time  the  female  produ  ed 
several  broods  of  young.     During  the  day  they  usually  concealed    hel- 
.elvesm  their  nests,  but  as  soon  as  it  was  dark  they  became  very  acti" 
and  playfu  ,  running  up  and  down  the  wires  of  their  cages,  robbing  each 
o  her's  httle   store-houses  of  various    grains  that  had    b^en  canldto 
them,  and  occasionally  emitting  the  only    sound  we  ever    heard  them 
utter-a  low  squeak  resembling  that  of  the  common  mouse.     We  have 
been  „,for„ed  by  W.luam  Coopeh,  Esq.,  of  Weehawken,  New-Jersey,  a. 
m  elhgent  and  close  observer,  to  whom  science  is  indebted  for  many  ex- 
ce  lent  papers  on  various  branches  of  natural  history,  that  this  species, 
when   runmng  off  with  its  young  to  a  place  of  safety,  presses  i^  tail 
closely  under  ,ts  abdomen  to  assist  in  holding  them  on  to  the  teats-a 
remarkable  mstance  of  the  love  of  offspring. 

The  White-footed  Mouse  seems  less  car..vorous  than  most  of  its  kin- 
dred speces.     We  found  it  when  in  confinement  always  dragging  to  its 
aest  any  kind  of  meat  we  placed  in  the  cage,  but  it  was  generally  left 
there  uneonsumed.       We  have  often  caught  it  in  traps  set  for  larger 
an.mals  and  baited  with  meat.     Its  first  object  is  to  drag  the  meat  to  its 
little    store-house    of  provisions ;    the  bait,  however,  being  tied   with  a 
«tnng  to  the  pan  of  the  steel-trap  is  not  so  easily  carried  off;  but  mth- 
out  much   loss  of  time  the  Mouse  gnaws  the  string  ir,  two,  and  if  not 
eaught  in  the  attempt,  drags  off  the  meat.     Our  friend,  the  late  Dr.  Johv 
WRrcHT,  ot  Troy,   furnished  us  with   information   confirming  the  above  ; 
he  says,  "In  tn.pping  lor  a  weasel  last  summer  I  tied  bits  of  beef  above 
each  trap   witii  twine.     On  my  first  visit  to  the  traps  I  found  the  twine 
at  one.  cut,  and  the  meat  in  the  jaws  of  the  trap.     The  next  day  the 
same  thing  was  observed  at  one  of  the  traps,   but  another  held  fast  a 
specimen  of  the  Mus  leucajms.      I  am  informed   that  the   trapper  is  not 
und-equently  trou))le(l  in  this  manner." 

We  have  known  tliis  Mouse  to  cut  into  pieces  snares  set  for  the  ruffed 
grouse,  placed  in  gaps  left  for  the  purpose  in  fences  of  brushwood. 
Jn  its  wild  suite  it  is  continually   laying  up  little  stores  of  grain  and 
grass  se(>ds.     W,,  h;r>,<  seen  it  carrying  in  its  mouth  acorns  and  chinque 
pms.     In  the  NordiL-rn   States,    these    little    hoards  are  often  composed 
wholly  of  wheat;  in  the  South,  of  rice.     This  species,  like  all  rats  and 
mice,  IS  fond  of  Indian-cor..,    from    which  it  only    extracts  the  choicest 
sweetest  portions,  eating  the  heart  and  leaving  lh<.  rest  untouched. 
In    thickly    settled    parts    ..f   the    United    Slates    this    Mouse    avoid? 


I,' Ml 


304 


AMERICAN  WIIITE-FOOTEU  MOUSE. 


dwellings,  and  even  outhouses,  and  cither  confines  itself  to  the  woods,  oi 
keeps  near  fences,  stone-heaps,  &e. ;  but  in  partially  deserted  houses,  or 
in  newly  formed  settlcnienls,  it  seems  to  take  the  place  of  the  common 
mouse.  Richardson  states  that  in  the  fur  countries  it  becomes  an  inmate 
of  the  dwelling  houses.  Dr.  Leitner,  an  eminent  botanist,  who,  whilst 
acting  as  surgeon  in  the  army,  was  unfortunately  killed  in  the  Florida 
war,  informed  us  that  whilst  on  a  botanizing  tour  through  Florida  a  few 
years  ago,  he  was  frequently  kept  awake  during  a  portion  of  the  night 
by  the  White-footed  Mice  which  had  taken  possession  of  the  huts  of  the 
Indians  and  the  log  cabins  of  the  early  white  settlers.  We  are  under 
an  impression  that  in  these  localities  the  common  cat,  and  the  Norway 
rat,  Avere  both  absent;  as  we  have  reason  to  believe  that  this  species  de- 
serts premises  whenever  they  are  trcquented  by  either  of  the  above  ani- 
mals. We  kept  a  pair  of  white  Norway  rats  (Albino  variety)  separated 
by  a  partition  from  an  interesting  family  of  white-footed  mice,  but  before 
we  were  aware  of  it,  the  rats  gnawed  through  the  partition  and  devour- 
ed all  our  little  pets 

This  is  a  timid  and  very  gentle  species  ;  we  have  seldom  known  it  to 
bite  when  taken  into  the  hand,  and  have  observed  that  in  a  state  of  con- 
finement it  suffered  itself  to  be  killed  by  the  very  carnivorous  cotton  ra* 
(Siii/iKx/on  fiispitlii/n)  without  making  any  resistance. 

We  are  disposed  lo  believe  that  this  species  produces  at  least  two  lit- 
ters of  young  in  a  season,  in  the  Northern  States,  and  three,  in  the 
Southern.  In  the  State  of  New-York  we  have  seen  the  young  every 
month  from  May  to  September ;  and  in  Carolina  a  female  that  was 
kept  in  confinement  had  young  three  times,  first  having  three,  at  a 
second  litter  five,  and  having  six  at  a  third. 

The  White-footed  Mouse  has  many  enemies.  Foxes,  wild-cats,  and 
owls,  destroy  it  frequently;  the  house-cat  strays  into  the  fields  and 
along  fences  in  search  of  it.  In  Carolina  some  domesticiited  cats  live 
in  the  fields  and  woods  in  a  partially  wild  state,  avoiding  houses  al- 
together; these  subsist  on  birds  and  the  smaller  rodentia,  and  this  species 
furnishes  a  considerable  portion  of  their  food  ;  but  we  are  disposed  to  re- 
gard the  ermine  (common  weasel)  as  its  most  formidable  and  voracious 
persecutor.  We  believe  that  the  White-footed  Mouse  does  not  always 
dig  a  burrow  of  its  own,  but  that  it  takes  possession  of  one  dug  by  some 
other  small  species;  in  the  Northern  States,  generally  that  of  the  chip- 
ping squirrel.  Be  this  as  it  may,  it  is  certain,  that  wherever  the  White- 
footed  Mouse  can  enter,  the  ermine  can  follow,  and  he  not  only  feeds 
ipon  it,  but  destroys  whole  families.  An  ermine  at  one  time  made  its 
t  scape  from  us,  carryinsi  with  it  a  small  portion  of  a  chain  fastened  aroniid 


AMERICAN  WHITE-FOOTED  MOUSE  on.t 

its  neck:   it  was  traced   by  a  servant  over  the  snow  a  mile  info  the 
woods,  to  a  spot   where  it  entered  a  very  small   hole.     It  was  dug  out 

.Ie"ad  n'tr'I'  ,  T'  ^''''^  ^^  ^'^  ^^'-'  «''  ^^is  species,  that  he  founo 
.lead  m  the  hole,  having  been  killed,  doubtless,  by  the  ermine.  From  an- 
pearanceMwo  only  had  been  devoured;  the  remainder  we  observe" i 
no  been  se.ed  by  the  throat  in  the  manner  of  the  cat.  but  had  the  marks 
of  the  ermine's  teeth  in  their  skulls. 

We  do  not  regard  this  species  as  doing  very  extensive  injury  either  to 
fhe  garden  or  farm,  in  any  of  the  Atlantic  States  of  America      We  sus! 
pect  that  Its  reputation  in  this  respect,  as  well  as  that  of  the  shrew-mole 
has  been  made  to  suffer  very  unjustly,  when  in  reality  the  author  of 
the  mischief  is  the  little  pine-mouse  iAr.,icola  pinetorum,  L.  CoxtpO    o 
perhaps  Wi.son's  meadow-mouse,  Aroicola  Pennsyhanica,  O.n    A    hZ 
sutus,  EMMO.S,  and  D.k.v).      The  formers  and  gardeners  of  the  No2 
em  and  Eastern  States,  however,  complain  that  this  Mouse,  which  they 
generally  call  the  "Deer-mouse,"  destroys  many  of  their  ca  bage  pla^,N 
and  other  young  and  tender  vegetables,  and  gnaws  the  bark  from  young 
uit  trees;  and  if  they  have  made  no  mistake  in  regard  to  the  sp'eeies 
.t  must  be  much  more  destructive  than  we  have  heretofore  considered  it' 


J 

ciH 

1 

j  : 

GEOGRArmCAI,    DISTRIBUTION. 

According  to  RiciMRnsoN,  this  species  is  ibund  as  far  north  as  Great 
Bear  Lake.  We  saw  in  the  London  museums  several  specimens  from 
Hud„ns  Bay;  it  extends  across  the  continent  to  the  Columbia  River  o" 
the  Pacific,  from  whence  Mr.  Towv.sk.o  brought  us  several  skins  We 
received  specimens  from  Florida  by  Dr.  Lkitxp.r  ;  we  found  it  west'of  the 
Mississippi  at  Fort  Union,  where  it  commits  depredations  in  the  gard  „ 
ataehed  tothe  Fort,  and  we  have  received  specimens  from  Ark  nt 


I  im 


«ENERAI.    REMARKS. 

That  a  species  so  widely  distributed,  and  subject  to  so  many  varieties 
ny..e.  ength  of  tail,  and  colour,  should  have  been  often  descHbed  m 
different  names,  is  not  surprising.  We  have  ourselves  often  been  in  a 
.tate  of  doubt  on  obtaining  some  striking  variety.  The  name  Hypud.n. 
„nus  of  our  friend.  Major  Le  Covte,  (see  Appen.lix  to  McM^trii'' 
t.-ansla,ion  of  Cuv.  An.  Kingd.,  vol.  i.,  p.  ,.,,)  ,,,,  ,,„,,.,  ^""^^ 
species  as  ,t  is  found  in  the  Souther.,  Stafes.  VVe  were  for  seven.!  voars 
deposed  to  regard  i,  .s  disfinet.  and  hav,.  no,   w.,hon,   much  He.llf^ 


'•nnp  i.npi 


306 


AMERICAN  WHITE-FOOTED  MOUSE 


and  after  an  examination  of  many  hundred  specimens,  been   induced  to 
set  it  down  as  a  variety  only. 

We  have  adopted  the  name  pjiven  to  it  by  RAFiNEsauE,  in  deference 
to  the  opinions  of  Richardson,  who  supposed  that  it  applied  to  this  species. 
Richardson  himself,  however, — not  Rafinesciue, — gave  a  true  description 
of  it. 

Godman,  in  describing  Mus  agrariu.i,  we  feel  confident,  had  reference 
to  this  species.  He  had,  however,  never  seen  the  European  Mas  agra- 
rius  of  Pallas,  else  he  would  not  have  made  so  great  a  mistake ;  we 
have  on  several  occasions  in  Denmark  and  Germany  compared  them, 
and  found  that  they  scarcely  bear  any  resemblance  to  each  other.  Mus 
agrarius  has  a  short  tail  and  short  hairy  ears.  Forster,  and  Harlan, 
refer  this  species  to  Mus  syhaticus  of  Europe.  Forster's  specimens  came 
from  Hudson's  Bay  at  an  early  period,  when  it  was  customary  to  consider 
American  species  of  Quadrupeds  and  Birds  as  mere  varieties  of  those  of 
Europe.  Harlan,  instead  of  describing  from  an  American  specimen, 
literally  translated  Desmarest's  description  of  the  European  Mus  syl- 
Vfiticus  and  applied  it  to  our  species,  (see  Mam.  p.  301,)  in  doing  whiqh, 
by  neglecting  to  institute  a  comparison,  he  committed  a  great  error. 

We  were  favoured  with  the  privilege  of  comparing  specimens  of  Mus 
si/Iriitirus  and  M.  Iciicnpus,  through  the  kindness  of  Prof.  Liciitenstein  at 
the  Berlin  museum.  Although  there  is  a  general  resemblance,  a  mo- 
ment's examination  will  enable  the  naturalist  to  discover  sufficient 
marks  of  difference  to  indue,  him  to  separate  the  species.  Mus  Icucopus 
has  a  little  longer  tail.  Its  ears  are  longer,  but  not  so  broad.  The  under 
surface  of  the  tail  o{ Mus  sylvnticus  is  less  white,  and  the  white  on  the 
under  surface  of  the  body  does  not  extend  as  high  on  the  sides,  nor  is 
there  any  distinct  line  of  separation  between  the  colours  of  the  back  and 
under  surface,  which  is  a  striking  characteristic  in  the  American  species. 
But  they  may  always  be  distinguished  from  each  other  at  a  glance  by 
the  following  mark:  in  more  fiiini  twenty  specimens  we  examined  of 
Mus  sylvaticus  we  have  always  found  a  yellowish  line  edged  with  dark- 
brown  on  the  breast.  In  many  hundred  specimens  of  Mus  leucopus 
we  have  without  a  single  exception  found  this  yellow  line  entirely  want- 
ing, all  of  them  being  pure  white  on  the  breast,  as  well  ns  on  the  whole 
under  surface.  We  have  no  hesitation  in  pronouncing  the  species 
distinct. 


307 


GENUS  MUSTELA.-Cuv 


DEMTAL    FORMULA. 


Inc 


isioe 


1—1 


Canine  — - ;   Molar  —  =  38 

1—1  6-« 


Head,  snmll  and  oval;  muzzle,  rather  large;  ears,  short  and  round, 
body,  long,  vermirorm ;  tail,  usually  long  and  cylindrical;  legs  short- 
five  toes  on  each  foot,  armed  with  sharp,  crooked,  slightly  retractile 
ckws.  ^o  anal  pouch,  but  a  small  gland  which  secretes  a  thickish 
otiensive  fluid.     Fur,  very  fine. 

This  genus  diff-ers  from  the  genus  PuTonrus,  having  four  carnivorous 
teeth  on  each  side,  in  the  upper  jaw,  instead  of  three,  the  number  the  true 
weasels  exhibit,  and,  the  last  carnivorous  tooth  on  the  lower  jaw  has  a 
rounded  lobe  on  the  inner  side,  which  renders  this  genus  somewhat  less 
carnivorous  in  its  habits  than  Putor.us;  and  consequently  a  slight  dimi- 
nution  of  the  cruelty  and  ferocity  displayed  by  animals  of  the  latter 
genus,  may  be  observed  in  those  forn.ing  the  present. 

There  are  about  twelve  species  of  true  Martens  known,  four  of  which 
inHabit  North  America. 

The  generic  name  Mustela,  is  derived  from  the  Latin  word  musUlcL 
a  weasel. 


MUSTELA   CANADENSIS.-ScHREBER. 

Pennant's  Marten  or  Fisher. 
Black  Fox  or  Black  Cap  op  the  Northern  Hunters. 

PLATE  XLI  —Male. 

Ccipite  et  humeris    cano    fuscoque   mixtis;   naso.    labus,   cruribus  et 
Cauda,  fusco-nigris.  ' 


ao8 


PENNANT'S  MARTEN   OR  FISHFR 


CHAnArTEHS. 


Head  and  shoulders,   mixed    irith   gray    and   brown 
ttnd  tail,  dark  brovm. 


nose    dps,  legs 


BVNONYMEH. 


i  i 


Lb  Pekan,  Buffon,  vol.  xiii.,  p.  304,  A.  D.  1749. 
MusTELA  Canadessis,  Sohrebcr,  Silugethiere,  p.  492,  17V5. 
MusTELA  Pennasit,  Ei'xleben,  Syst.,  p.  470,  A.  D.  1777. 
FisHEK,  Penn.,  Aict.  Zool.,  4  vols.,  vol.  i.,  p.  82,  A.  D.  1784. 
MusTELA  Canaden'sis,  Gmcl.,  Linn.,  vol.  i.,  p.  95,  1788. 
Wejack,  Heame's  Journey. 

Fisher,  or  Black  Fo.'c,  Lewis  and  Clarke,  vol.  iii.,  p.  26. 
Fisher,  Weasel,  or  Pekan,  Warden's  United  States. 
MusTKLA  Pennanti  Sabine,  Frank.  First  Journey,  p.  651. 
Mlstela  Canadensis,  Harlan,  F.,  p.  05. 

"  "  Godman,  vol.  i.,  p.  203. 

Mi'stela  God.mani,  Less.,  Mamm.,  p.  150. 
MusTELA  Canadensis,  Rich.,  F.  B.  A.,  p.  52. 
Pekan  or  Fisheb,  Dekay,  Nat.  Hist-  N.  Y.,  p.  31. 

DESORIPTION. 

The  head  of  this  species  bears  a  stronger  resemblance  to  that  of  a  dog 
than  to  the  head  of  a  cat.  Its  canine  teeth,  in  the  upper  Jaw,  are  so  Ion", 
that  with  the  slightest  movement  of  the  lip  they  are  exposed.  Head, 
broad  and  round,  contracting  rather  suddenly  toward  the  nose,  which  is 
acute.  Eyes,  rather  small  and  oblique  ;  ears,  low,  broad,  semicircular, 
and  far  apart,  covered  on  both  surfaces  with  short  soft  fur ;  whiskers, 
half  the  length  of  the  head ;  body,  long,  and  formed  for  agility  and 
strength. 

The  pelage  consists  of  a  short  fino  down  next  the  skin,  intermixed 
with  longer  and  coarser  hairs  about  an  inch  and  a  half  in  length;  these 
hairs  are  longer  on  the  po.sterior  parts  of  the  animal  than  on  the 
shoulders. 

The  feet  are  robust.  Fore-feet,  shorter  than  the  hind-feet,  thickly 
clothed  with  rather  fine  and  short  hairs ;  nails,  long,  strong,  curved,  and 
sharp  ;  soles,  hairy ;  the  toes  an  all  the  feet  are  connected  at  the  base 
by  a  short  hairy  web  ;  the  callosities  consequently  make  only  a  slight 
impression  when  the  animal  is  walking  or  running  on  the  snow. 

Tail,  long,  bushy,  and  gradually  diminishing  to  a  point  toward  the 
extremity. 

This  species  has  so  strong  a  smell   of  musk,  (like  the  pine  marten,' 


PENNANT'S  MARTEN  OR  FISHER. 


309 

hat  we  have  found  the  skin  somewhat  unpleasant  to  our  olfactories 
M  veral  years  atfer  it  had  been  prepared  as  a  specimen. 

COLOUR. 

Fur  on  the  back  ,„  ,,,,,,  ^he  extremity,  chesnut-brown 

npped  wuh  red  ish.  .d  light  ,ray.     On  the  head,  shoulders,  and' 

ore  part  of  the  back,  ti.ere  ,ue  so  many  long  whitish  hairs  interspersed, 
that  thej       ..duce  a  somewhat  hoary  appearance.     Whiskers,  nose  chin 
ears,leg^      et,  and  tail,  dark-brown;  margins  of  the  ears,   light-bmwn  ' 
h.ps  and  posterior  part  of  the  back,  darker  than  the  shoulders ;  eyes' 
yellowish-brown;  nails,  light  horn-colour. 

In  some  specimens,  we  have  seen  a  white  spot  on  the  throat,  and  a  line 
of  the  same  colour  on  tbo  belly;  others,  (as  was  the  case  with  the  one 
from  which  our  draw,  was  mad.,)  have  no  white  markings  on  the 
body.  We  have  seen  ,.  pecimen,  nearly  white,  with  a  brown  head 
Another,  obtained  in  Buncombe  county,  i^orth  Carolina,  was  sli^htlv 
hoary  on  the  whole  upper  surface.  ^    ^ 


23 

inches 

12 

do. 

14i 

do. 

H 

do. 

1 

do. 

2 

do. 

2 

do. 

4i 

do. 

DIMENSIONS. 

From  point  of  nose  to  root  of  tail 

Tail,  (vertebra;) 

to  end  of  hair     -        .         .         .         . 
Breadth  of  head 

*  •  •  • 

Height  of  ear     -        .        .        .        . 
Breadth  of  ear  -        .        .        _ 

From  point  of  nose  to  eye 

heel  to  point  of  longest  nail 

Weight,  8i  lbs. 

HABITS. 

^    Although  this  species  is  represented  as  having  been   rather  common 
rn  every  part  of  the  Northern  and  Middle  States,  in  the  early    .ordTo 
our  history    and  is  still  met  with  in  diminished  numbers,  i  ,^tZ 
settled  portions  of  our  country;   very  little  of  its  history  or  h     its  ,  ^ 

with   t,  but  It  has  been  to  us  far  from  a  com.uon  species.     Even   n  the 

mountainous  portions  of  the  Northern  and  Eastern  States,  the  F   her 

hirty  years  ago,  was  as  difficult  to  procure  as  the  Bay  Ivnx      It  has 

->ce  become  still  more  rare,  and  in  places  where  it  was  the     kn    A 


^> 


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Sciences 
Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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PEN NjI  NT'S  MARTEN  OR  FISHER. 


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scarcely  any  vestige  of  the  knowledge  of  its  former  existence   can  nou 
be  traced. 

Dr.  Dekay  (Nat.  Hist.  N.  Y.,  p.  32,  1843,)  states  that,  "  iu  HamiUon 
county,  (N.  Y.,)  it  is  still  numerous  and  troublesome."  On  an  excursion 
we  made  in  the  State  of  New- York,  1827,  we  heard  of  it  occasionally 
near  the  head  waters  of  Lake  Champlain,  along  the  St.  Lawrence,  and 
to  the  west  as  far  as  Lake  Eric,  but  it  was  every  where  represented  as 
a  species  that  was  fast  disappearing. 

Whilst  residing  in  the  northern  part  of  our  native  State,  (New- York,) 
thirty-five  years  ago,  the  hunters  were  in  the  habit  of  bringing  us  two  or 
three  specimens  of  this  Marten  in  the  course  of  a  winter.  They  obtained 
them  by  following  their  tracks  in  the  snow,  when  the  animals  had 
been  out  in  quest  of  food  on  the  previous  night,  thus  tracing  them  to 
the  hollow  trees  in  which  they  were  concealed,  which  they  chopped 
down.  They  informed  us  that  as  a  tree  was  falling,  the  Fisher  would 
dart  from  the  hollow,  which  was  often  fifty  feet  from  the  ground,  and 
leap  into  the  snow,  when  the  dogs  usually  seized  and  killed  him, 
although  not  without  a  hard  struggle,  as  the  Fisher  was  infinitely  more 
dangerous  to  their  hounds  than  either  the  gray  or  the  red  fox.  They 
usually  called  this  species  the  Black  Fox. 

A  servant,  on  one  occasion,  came  to  us  before  daylight,  asking  us  to 
shoot  a  raccoon  for  him,  which,  after  having  been  chased  by  his  dogs 
th'  previous  night,  had  ta,ken  to  so  large  a  tree  that  he  neither  felt  dis- 
posed to  climb  it  nor  to  cut  it  down.  On  our  arrival  at  the  place,  it  was 
already  light,  and  the  dogs  were  barking  furiously  at  the  foot  of  the 
tree.  We  soon  perceived  that  instead  of  being  a  raccoon,  the  animal 
was  a  far  more  rare  and  interesting  species,  a  Fisher.  As  we  were 
anxious  to  study  its  habits  we  did  not  immediately  (hoot,  but  teased  it 
by  shaking  some  grape  vines  that  had  crept  up  near  y  to  the  top  of  the 
tree.  The  animal  not  only  became  thoroughly  frightened,  but  seemed 
furious ;  he  leaped  from  branch  to  branch,  showing  his  teeth  and  growl- 
ing at  the  same  time ;  now  and  then  he  ran  half  way  down  the  trunk  of 
the  tree,  elevating  his  back  in  the  manner  of  an  angry  cat,  and  we  every 
moment  expected  to  see  him  le.ap  off  and  fall  among  the  dogs.  He 
was  brought  down  afler  several  discharges  from  the  gun.  He  seemed 
extremely  tenacious  of  life,  and  was  game  to  the  last,  holding  on  to  the 
nose  of  a  dog  with  a  <lying  grasp.  This  animal  proved  to  be  a  male ; 
the  body  measured  twenty-five  inches,  and  the  tail,  including  the  fur, 
fiflteen.  The  servant  who  had  traced  him,  informed  us  that  he  appeared 
to  tiave  far  less  speed  than  a  fox,  thid  he  ran  for  ten  minutes  through  o 
swamp  in  a  straight  direction,  and  then  took  to  a  tree. 


PENNANT'S  MARTEN  OR  FISHER. 


311 


can  nou 


The  oulj    opportunity    that  was  ever   afforded  us  ol'  judging  of  the 
speed  of  the  Fisher  occurred  near  the  Virginia  Gray-Sulphur"  Springs,  in 
1839.     We  had  ascended  Peter's  Mountain  in  search  of  rare  slants  for 
our  herbarium ;  out  of  health  and  fatigued,  we  had  for  some  time  been 
seated  on  a  rock  to  rest,  when  wc  observed  a  gray  squinel  pass  within 
.en  feet  of  as,  seemingly  in  a  great  fright,  and  with  all  the  speed  it  could 
command,  with  a  Fisher  in  full  pursuit.      They   were  both  too  much 
occupied  with  their  own  affairs  to  take  any  notice  of  us.     The  Fisher 
seemed  to  make  more  rapid  nrogress  than  the  squirrel,  and  we  feel  con- 
fident  that  if  the  latter  had  not  mounted  a  tree  it  would  have  been  over- 
taken before  it  could  have  advanced  many  feet  farther ;  it  ran  rapidly  up 
the  sides  of  a  cucumber  tree,  {Magnolia  acminati,)  still  pursued  by  its 
hungry  foe.     The  squirrel  leaped  lightly  among  the  smaller  branches,  on 
which  its  heavier  pursuer  seemed  unwilling  to  trust  himself.     At  length 
the  affrighted    animal    pitched    from    one  of  the    topmost    boughs  and 
landed  on  its    feet    unhurt    among  the  rocks    beneath.      We  expected 
every  moment  to  see  the  Fisher  give  us  a  specimen  also  of  his  talent 
at  lofty  tumbling,  but  he  seemed  to  think  that  the  "  better  part  of  valour 
was  discretion,"  and  began  to  run  down   the  stem  of  the  tree.     At  this 
point  we  interfered.     Had  he  imitated  the  squirrel  in  its  flying  leap,  he 
might  have  been  entitled  to  the  prey,  provided  he  could  overtake  it ;  but 
as  he  chose  to  exercise  some  stratc.?y  and  jockeying  in  the  race,  when 
the  chances  were  so  much  in  his  favour,  we  resolved  to  end  the  chase 
by  running  to  the  foot  of  the  tree  which  the  Fisher  was  descending.     He 
paused  on  the  opposite  side  as  if  trying  to  ascertain  whether  he  had  been 
observed ;  we  were  without  a  gun,  but  rattled  away  with  a  knife  on  our 
botanizing  box,  which  seemed  to  frighten  the  Marten  in  his  turn,  most 
effectually ;— the  more  noise  we  created   the  greater  appeared  to  be  his 
terror ;    after    ascending  to  the  top  of  the   tree  he  sprang  to  ano'her, 
which  he  rapidly  descended,  till  within  twenty  feet  of  the  earth,  wh,  a  he' 
mmped  to  the  ground,  and  with  long  leaps  ran  rapidly  down  the  side  of 
the  mountain,  and  was  out  of  sight  in  a  few  moments. 

This  scene  occurred  in  the  morning  of  a  warm  day  in  the  month  of 
July,  a  proof  that  this  species  is  not  altogether  nocturnal  in  its  habits. 
We  arc,  however,  inclined  to  believe  that  the  above  was  only  ati  ex- 
ceplioii  to  the  general  character  of  the  animal. 

Species  that  are  decidedly  nocturnal  in  their  habits,  lre(|iiontly  may  be 
seen  moving  about  by  day  during  the  period  when  they  are  engaged  in 
providing  for  their  young.  Thus  the  raccoon,  the  opossum,  and  all  our 
hares,  are  constantly  met  with  in  spring,  and  early  summer,  in  the  morn 


Vm^ 


m\ 


312 


PENNANT'S  MARTEN  Oil  FISMER. 


ing  and  afternoon,  whilst  in  the  autumn  and  winter  they  only  move 
about  by  night. 

In  the  many  fox-hunts,  in  which  our  neighbours  were  from  time  to 
time  engaged,  not  far  from  our  residence  at  the  north,  during  the  period 
when  we  obtained  the  inibrmation  concerning  their  primitive  mode  ot 
enjoying  that  amusement,  which  we  have  laid  before  our  readers,  in 
pages  4!)  and  50,  (where  we  also  spoke  of  Pennant's  Marten  as  not 
being  very  scarce  at  that  time  in  Rensselaer  county,  N.  Y.,)  we  never 
heard  cf  their  having  encountered  a  single  Fisher  in  the  day-time ;  but 
when  they  traversed  the  same  grounds  at  night,  in  search  of  raccoons, 
it  was  not  unusual  for  them  to  discover  and  capture  this  species.  We 
were  informed  by  the  trappers  that  they  caught  the  Fisher  in  their  traps 
only  by  night. 

The  specimen,  from  which  the  figure  m  our  plate  was  drawn,  was 
taken  alive  in  some  part  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains,  in  the  State  ot 
Pennsylvania,  and  we  soon  afterwards  received  a  letter  from  our 
esteemed  friend,  Spencer  F.  Baird,  Esq.,  of  Carlisle,  in  that  State,  in- 
forming us  of  its  having  been  captured,  which  enabled  us,  through  that 
gentleman,  to  purchase  it.  We  received  it  at  New-York,  in  good  con- 
dition, in  a  case  tinned  inside,  with  iron  bars  in  front,  to  prevent  the 
animal  from  making  its  escape,  as  it  was  so  strong  and  so  well  supplied 
with  sharp  teeth  that  it  could  easily  have  eaten  its  way  out  of  a  common 
wooden  box.  In  Mr.  Bairh's  note  he  says  :  "  All  the  account  I  was  able 
to  procure  respecting  this  species  was  the  following : — It  was  found  in 
company  with  an  older  one,  in  Peters'  Mountain,  six  miles  above  Harris- 
burgh,  about  five  weeks  ago.  (His  letter  is  dated  Carlisle,  March  lOth, 
1844.)  After  a  most  desperate  resistance  the  old  one  was  killed,  after 
having  beaten  off  the  dogs,  to  whose  assistance  the  hunters  were 
obliged  to  come.  This  individual  ran  up  a  tree,  and  being  stoned  by  the 
hunters,  jumped  off"  from  a  height  of  about  forty  feet !  when  being  a  little 
stunned  by  the  leap,  the  men  ran  up  quickly,  threw  their  coats  over 
it,  and  thus  secured  it.  The  old  one  was  said  to  have  been  about  the  size 
of  a  pointer  dog.  The  young  one  is  very  savage,  and  emits  a  rather 
strong  musky  odour." 

We  kept  this  individual  alive  tor  some  days,  feeding  it  on  raw  meat, 
pioces^of  chieken.  and  now  nnd  then  a  bird.  It  was  voracious,  and  very 
sjjiteful,  growling,  snarling  find  spitting  when  .'ipproached,  but  it  did  not 
appear  to  sutFer  much  uneasiness  from  being  held  in  captivity,  as,  like 
many  other  predacious  quadrupeds,  it  grew  fat,  being  better  supplied 
rt'ilh  food  than  when  it  had  been  obliged  to  cater  for  itself  in  the 
■voods. 


PENNANT'S  MARTEN  OR  F'SHEH. 

0„  «veral  occasion,  wo  have  «ee„  the  track,  ol'  the  K  ife      r,h„ 
»ow;  ihey  rc.,..„,ble  these  of  , he  ,,i„o  marten,  but  are  doub  e  tL  "  z. 

„W,e.  „.  „UK  notes  on  the  hal  tX  „f ,7:;';;;'  ""  "';'"'■  -e  fur- 
Lake  Outatio,  he  informs  us  that  "a  Fishcrls  ZTv  ,T  "^  "'"" 
M..».  u..ar  Port  no|K,,  who  said  it  w.  p T  Tl^  ,'7"  "'""°'' 
of  a  pine  marten,  which  he  also  broush.  wiuf  i  "     M^P  '""■■"'" 

them  l,oth  at  the  time.  = '■  >viUMt.      Ml.  toriiERoiLL  stulfed 

the'::;;::f  "„:::  *"•  "■" '» °'°-"™ "«'  f-i-  -mures  n„t  omy 

treeZl  "°™™'  "''  """  '"  '""™'"  ""^  " '-PB  from 

":5=:::t:teS^:t!d:;t^-^^^^^ 

VVe  can  scarcely  conceive  in  what  manner  it  is  able  to  overtnm  .V, 

"wa.  derived  f„m  U,  si„r In^Z^rth":! t ;:T„i!^*':i 
Aan„hv,d„„l  ofthis  species,  which  had  been  caught  i    a"  1^^;    „ 

40 


314 


PENNANT'S  MARTEN  OR  FlHHER. 


if'v 


! 


I 

i  \ 


4  ' 


The  Fisher  is  represented  as  following  the  line  of  traps  set  by  the 
trappers,  and  in  tlic  manner  of  the  wolverene,  robbing  them  of  their 
bait.  The  season  for  hunting  this  species  is  stated,  by  Dr.  Dekay,  to 
coinmenc(i  in  the  western  part  of  New- York,  about  the  10th  of  Octdxir, 
and  to  last  till  the  middle  of  May;  and  he  says  the  ordinary  price  paid 
for  each  skin  is  a  dollar  and  a  half. 

This  species  brings  forth  once  a  year,  depositing  its  young  in  the 
trunk  of  a  large  tree,  usually  some  thirty  or  Ibrty  feet  from  the  ground. 
Dr.  li;*"iiARiii<(>N  oi)s«^rv(!S  that  it  produces  from  two  to  lour  young  at  a 
litter;  Dekay  coutines  the  number  to  two.  We  once  saw  three  v,x- 
tracted  from  the  body  of  a  female  on  the  20th  of  April,  in  the  northern 
part  of  New- Yolk. 

GEOGKAPHIOAL     niHTRinimoN. 

This  species  inhabit«  a  wide  extent  of  country.  To  the  north  it 
exists,  according  to  Richardson,  as  far  as  Great  Slave  Lake,  latitude  1)3°. 
It  is  found  at  Labrador,  and  extends  across  the  continent  to  the  Pacific. 
It  is  stated  by  all  our  authors  that  it  does  not  exist  further  south 
than  Pennsylvania.  This  is  an  error,  as  we  saw  it  on  the  moun- 
tains ol'  Virginia.  We  had  an  opportunity  of  examining  a  specimen 
obtained  by  Dr.  GnniEs,  of  Columbia,  South  Carolina,  from  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Ashville,  iJuncombe  county.  North  Carolina.  We  have  seen 
several  skins  procured  in  Ivist  Tennessee,  and  \vv,  have  heard  of  at 
least  one  individual  that  was  captured  near  Flat-Rock,  in  that  State, 
latitude  3."i°. 

We  liavc^  also  seen  many  skins  from  the  Upper  Missouri;  and  the 
Fisher  is  enumerated,  by  Lkwis  and  Clarke,  as  one  of  the  species  exist- 
ing on  the  Pacilic  Ocean,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Columbia  River. 

GENERAL    REMARKS. 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  on  the  large  plate  of  this  animal 
in  our  folio  edition  we  gave  to  Linna;i;.s  the  credit  of  having  first 
applied  a  scientilic  name  to  this  species,  we  must  now  transfer  it  to 
SciiREBER,  by  whom,  Linn/Kus  having  been  unacquainted  with  it,  it  was 
described  in  ITiH.  It  was  described  two  years  afterwards  by  Erxleben, 
and  in  178H,  i)y  Gmelin,  &c.  It  is  probable  that,  by  some  mistake, 
the  habits  of  the  mink  have  been  ascribed  to  the  Fishtr;  hence 
its  English  name  seems  to  be  inappropriate ;  but  as  it  appears  to 
be  entitled  to  it,  by  right  of  long  possession,  we  do  not  feel  dis- 
posed  to  change  it.  We  are,  however,  not  (|uite  sure  ol'  its  having  no 
claim  to  till'  name  lt\  il--  mode  of  living.     Its  partially  webbed  feet  si-eui 


PENNANT'S  MARTEN  OR  FISHER. 

:"™t::.':r;;:;:':"  •'''•"  -"-^  --^  p'-«.  r-i^! 

u.-,,  aiiu  eats  ifth  when  in  captiv  t.y.     We  feel  nr,.t>,r  .      ,•  i 
it  does  not  dive   •ifV,.r  f»,..   n         .    i        ,        ^  "^'^'  P'^«^"y  «'>'i(i(lent  that 

sometimes  named  the  Black  Fox    h„f  m        /  ,     ^«w-York  it  is 

Fi-sher.     Accordi-,.-  ,n  n  .  ^  'requently  is  known  as  the 

'M.     Accordug  toDEKAv,  It  is  called  the  Black  r^t  h^-  th^  •  x    u 

tants  ol-the  western  portion  of  New-York.  ^  "'•'^'^- 


316 


GENUS  MEPHITIS.— Cuv 


DENTAL    FORMUIA. 


Incisive  - ;  Canine  -— - ;   Molar  ■—-  =  34 

6  1 — 1  5 — » 


Canine  teeth,  very  strong,  conical ;  two  small  anterior  cheek-teeth,  of 
false  molars,  above,  and  three  below,  on  each  side.  The  superior  tuber- 
culous teeth,  very  large,  as  broad  as  they  are  long ;  inferior  molars 
having  two  tubercles  on  the  inner  side. 

Head,  short ;  nose,  somewhat  projecting ;  snout,  in  most  of  the  species 
blunt. 

Feet,  with  five  toes ;  toes  of  the  fore-feet,  armed  with  long,  curved 
nails,  indicating  the  habit  of  burrowing  in  the  earth ;  heel  very  little 
raised  in  walking. 

Hairs  on  the  body,  usually  long,  and  on  the  tail,  very  long. 

The  anal  glands  secrete  a  liquor  which  is  excessively  fetid.  The 
various  species  of  this  genus  burrow  in  the  ground,  or  dwell  in  fissures 
of  rocks,  living  on  poultry,  bird's  eggs,  small  quadrupeds,  and  insects. 
They  move  slowly,  and  xjldom  attempt  to  run  from  man,  unless  they 
chance  to  be  near  their  burrows.  They  are  to  a  considerable  extent 
gregiirious ;  large  families  being  occasionally  found  in  the  same  hole. 

In  the  recent  work  of  Dr.  Licin-ENSTEiN,  (Ueber  die  Gattung  Mephitis, 
Berlin,  1838,)  seventeen  species  of  this  genus  are  enumerated,  one  of 
which  is  found  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  two  in  the  United  States  of 
America,  and  the  remainder  in  Mexico  and  South  America. 

The  generic  name  Mephitis,  is  derived  from  the  Latin  word  Mephiti* 
a  strong  odour. 


317 


MEPHITIS   CinNGA.-T,ED,MANN 

Common  American  Skunk. 
PLATE  XLII.-F.MALE. 

signeta ;  cauda  longa  villosissima. 


in 


CHARACTER8. 


8YNONYMES. 

OuiNESQUE,  Sagard  Tlieodat,  Canada,  p.  748 

L'N.ANT  Du  DiADu,  Charlevoix,  Nouv.  France,  iii.,  p.  133. 

Skunk-Wk ASK,..  Pennant's  Arctic  Zool.,  vol.  i.,  p.  86 

DKUNK,  Hearne's  Journey,  p.  377. 

MKi-Hrns  CiuNGA,  Tiedimann,  Zool.  i..  p.  361.  (Anh  37  )  180R 

Pole-Cat  Skunk,  Kalm's  Travels,  vol.  I,  p.  .378  ^^ 

ViVERA  Mephitis,  Gmel.  (L.)  Syst.  Nat.,  p.  88. 

MusTELA  Americana,  Desm.  Mam.,  p.  186.  A.  D.  1820       ' 

Mephitis  Americana.  Sab..  Frank.  Jownal,  p.  663.        * 

Harlan,  Fauna,  p.  70. 
The  Sk.ink.  Godm.,  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  i.,  p   213 
Mephitis  Americana,  Var.  Hudsonica,  Rich!,  F.  B   A    p  65 

Chinoa,   Lichtenstein,   Darstellung  neuer  oder  wenlg  bekannter  Sftuiro 
thiere,  Berhn,  1827-34,  xlv.  Tafel,  1st  figure  ^ 

Chinque.  Licht.,  Ueber  die  Gattung  Mephitis,  p.  32  BerUn  1838 

Americana,  Dekay,  Nat.  Hist.  N.  Y.,  pt.  1,  p.  29. 

DESCRIPTION. 

This  .species  in  all  its  varieties  has  a  broad  fleshy  body    resembling 

hat  of  t       wolverene;  it  .stands  low  on  its  leg.,  and  is  inLhTd     "a 

he  hips  than  at  the  shoulders.     Fur,  rather  long  and  coarse    wi A  mLh 

longer,  smooth  and  glossy  hairs,  interspersed.  '  "''' 

Tlic  head  is  small   compared  with  the  size  of  the  body;    forehead 

somewhat  rounded;  nose,  obtuse,  covered  with  short  hair ';  the  snout 


ft!        i     •■      ' 


318 


COMMON  AMERICAN  SKUNK 


which  is  naked  •  eyes,  small ;  ears,  short,  broad  and   roundod,  clothfd 
with  hair  on  both  surlaces ;  whiskers,   lew  and  weak,  extending  a  little 
beyond  the  eyes ;   ieet,   rather  !)road,   and  covered  with  hair  coneealinjr 
the   nails,  which  on  the   i'on'-leet  are  robust,    curved,  cotnpressed,  and 
acute ;  palms,  naked.     The   trunk  of  the  tail   is  nearly   half  as  lo'n«  as 
the  body.     Hair  on  the  tail,  very  long  and  bushy,  containing  from  with- 
in  an  inch  of  the  root  to  the  extremity,  no  mixture  of  the  finer  fur.     The 
glands  are  situated  on  either  side  of  the  rectum:  the  ducts  are  al)out  an 
inch  in  length,  and  are  of  a  somewhat  pyriform  shape.     The  inner  mem- 
brane  is  corrugated;  the  principal  portion  of  the  glands  is  a  muscular 
tendinous    substance.      The  sac  is  capable  of  containing    about    three 
drachms.     When  the  tail  is  erected  for  the  purpose  of  ejecting  the  nau- 
seous fluid,  the  open  orifices  of  the  ducts  are  percei)til)le  on  a  black  disk 
surrounding  the  anus.     The  exit  from  the  duct  at  the  aims  when  dis- 
tcnc'ed  will  admit  a  crow-quill. 

COLOUR. 

This  species  varies  so  much  in  colour  that  there  is  sor.e  difficulty  in 
finding  two  specimens  alike  ;  we  have  given  a  representation  on  our 
plate  of  the  colour  which  is  most  common  in  the  Middle  States,  and 
which  Dr  Harlan  described  as  Mephitis  Americana,  our  specimen  only 
differing  from  his  in  having  a  longitudinal  stripe  on  the  Ibreliead. 

The  under  fur  on  all  those  portions  of  the  body  which  are  dark  colour- 
ed,  IS  dark  brown  ;  in  those  parts  which  are  ligiit  coloured,  it  is  white 
from  the  roots.  These  under  colours,  however,  are  concealed  by  a  ^hick 
coat  of  longer,  coarser  hairs,  which  are  smooth  and  glossy. 

There  is  a  narrow  white  stripe  commencing  on  the  nose  and  running 
to  a  point  on  the  top  of  the  head ;  a  patch  of  white,  of  about  two  inches 
m  length,  and  of  the  same  breadth,  commences  on  the  occiput  and  covers 
the  upper  parts  of  the  neck;  on  each  side  of  the  vertebra)  of  the  tail 
there  is  a  broad  longitudinal  stripe  for  three-fourths  of  its  length ;  the 
tail  is  finally  broadly  tipped  with  white,  interspersc-l  with  a  few  black 
hairs.     The  colour  on  every  other  part  of  the  body  is  olackish-brown. 

Another  specimen  from  the  same  locality  has  a  white  stripe  on  the 
forehead ;  a  large  white  spot  on  the  occiput,  extending  downwards,  di- 
verging  on  the  back,  and  continuing  down  the  sides  to  within  two  inches 
of  the  extremity  of  the  tail,  leaving  the  back,  the  end  oi  the  tail,  and  tJ.e 
whole  of  the  under  surface,  blackish-brown. 

The  young  on  the  plate  are  from  the  same  nest ;  one  has  white  stripes 
on  the  back,  with  a  black  tail ;  the  other  hat;  no  stripes  ou  the  back,  but 
the  end  of  its  tail  is  white. 


COMMON  AMERICAN  SKUNK.  gjjj 

Jn  ge,u.-al  we  have  li  «„,!  the  varieties  in  a  particular  locality  marked 
wuh  tolerable  unUormity.     To  this  rule,  however,  there  are  Jny  exeop 

coun  y,  N   Y     wh.,-1.  we  knew  eontai,,,.,!  a  lar^e  family  of  this  species 

We  found  eleven:   they  were  all   full  ,rown.  but  o„   exarninin 'Th "; 

t  ..    and  claws,   we  concluded   that  the   fan.ily   was  eo.nposed  o I"  a  p  i 

I    . .1.1  ones,  w,,     their  lar.e  brood  of  youn.  of  the  previous  season.     T  1 

n..le    ,ul  a  w  .,e  stnpe  on  the   forehead;   and   fro.n  the  occiput  down 

how  u,,.,„  ,,  ^^^^  ^^^^^^^^  ^^^,^^  ^,^^  inches  in  beaZ 

.ts  ta.    was  also   white.     The  female   had   no  white  stripe  on  thetre' 

hoad.  but  had  a  on.itudinal  stripe  on  each  side  of  the  hack,  an        Z 

un-ow  one  on  the  dorsal  line;   the  tail   was   wholly   black.     T^e  yoZ 

.ilercl   very   w.dely  in  colour ;   we  could   not  fmd  two  exactly  alik  ' 

mal       vhdst  the  largest  proportion   were  intermediate  in  their  mark- 

.«  .  and  some  seemed  to  resemble  neither  parent.     We  reeolIecTone 

that  had  not  a  white  hair,  except  the  tip  of  the  tail  and  a  minut  doll^ 

On  the  other  hand,  we  had  in  February  (the  same  winter)   another 

In    bnrovv;  they  were  taken  in  the  course  of  ten  days,  and  we  have 
eason   o  beheve  none  escaped.     In  this  .-anuly  there  wL    a  very  st      . 
esenldance.     The  animals  which  we  considered  the  ohl  pair    ha    tw^. 
l<>M..tud.nal  stripes  on   the   back,   with  a  spot  on  the   foreWad      1  th 
youn.  the  only  difference  was,  that  in  some  of  the  s^cimen      he  whi  " 
■no  united  on  the  back  above  the  root  of  the  tail,  w    Is  Tn Tthl^^^^ 

others,  black       We  had  an  opportunity  near  Easton,   Pennsylvani-.  of 
eon,,  an  old  female  Skunk  with  six  youn,.     We  had  no  knowlXe  o 
h     eolour  of  the  male.      The  female,  however,  had  two  broad  s  lis 
VK    a  very  narrow   black  dorsal   line;  the  youn,  differed  consid    Ibly 
m  the.r  markm^s,  some  h.-uin-,  blao.,  and  others  white  tails  ^ 

In  the  sand-hills  near  Columbia,  South  Carolina,  we  met  aion-.  th, 
SKlosof  the  highway  four  half.,rown   animals  of  ihisspS  1    I^y^ 
had  a  ,,      ,.„^  ^,^   ^_,^^j^  ^.j^  of  the  back,  andasm.ll   wli 

pot  on  the^forehead  ;  the  tails  of  two  of  them  were  tipped  with  wl      • 
the  others  had  the  whole  of  their  tails  black  ' 

-h>u.sol  the  dUleren.   vanef.es  of  this  species,  we  have   ..rivod  at  the 


J2() 


COMMON  AMKUICAN  SKUNK. 


conclusion,  that  when  a  pair  aro  alilic  in  colour  the  young  will  bear  a 
Btrong  resenihlancc  l.i  their  markings  to  the  old.  When  on  the  contrary 
the  parents  diller,  t)ie  young  assuuje  a  variety  of  intermediate  colours. 


UIMENBIONt). 

From  point  of  nose  to  root  of  tail 
Tail  (vertebrcD)  .        .         -        .         ■ 

Tail,  to  end  of  hair  .         .        .         . 

Distance  between  eyes       ... 
From  point  of  nose  to  corner  of  mouth 

Weight,  t)4  pounds. 


17 

inches 

»i 

do. 

12} 

do. 

1! 

do. 

1} 

do. 

HADITS. 


n 


There  is  no  quadruped  on  the  contine  ^t  of  North  America  the  ap 
proach  of  which  is  more   generally    detested  than   that  of  the  Skunk: 
from  which  we  may  learn   that,  although   from  the  great  and  the  strong 
we  have  to  ajiprehcnd   Janger,  the   feeble  and  apparently  insignificant 
may  have  it  in  their  power  to  annoy  us  almost  beyond  endurance. 

Inthehimau  species  we  sometimes  perceive  that  a  particular  faculty 
has  received  an  extraordinary  dmelopment,  the  result  of  constant  devo- 
tion to  one  subject;  whilst  in  other  respects  the  mind  of  the  individual 
is  of  a  very  ordinary  character.  The  same  remark  will  hold  good  ap- 
plied  to  any  particular  organ  or  member  of  the  body,  which,  by  constant 
use,  (like  the  organs  of  touch  in  the  blind  man,)  becomes  so  improved  as 
lo  serve  as  a  substitute  for  others:  but  in  the  lower  orders  of  animals 
this  prominence  in  a  particular  organ  is  the  result  of  its  peculiar  confor- 
mation, or  of  instinct.  Thus  the  power  of  the  rhinoceros  is  exerted 
chiefly  by  his  nasal  horn,  the  wild  boar  relies  for  defence  on  Ms  tusks, 
the  safety  of  the  kangaroo  depends  on  his  hind-feet,  which  not  only  en- 
able him  to  make  CA^raordinary  leaps,  but  with  wliich  he  deals  vigorous 
blows,  the  bull  attacks  his  foes  with  his  horns,  the  rattlesnake's  deadly 
venom  is  conveyed  through  its  fangs,  and  the  bee  has  the  means  of  de- 
stroying some  of  its  enemies  by  its  sting,  whilst  in  every  other  power  for 
attack  or  self-defence  these   vnrious  creatures  arc  comparatively  feeble. 

The  Skunk,  although  armed  willi  claws  and  teeth  strong  and  sharp 
riiongli  to  eai)tur>!  his  prey,  is  slow  on  loot,  apparently  timid,  and  woulil 
he  una})le  to  oscape  from  many  of  his  enemies,  if  he  were  not  possessed 
of  a  power  by  which  he  often  causes  the  most  ferocious  to  make  a  rapid 
retreat,  run  their  noses  into  the  earth,  and  roll  or  tunii)le  on  the  ground 
as   if  in   convulsions;    and,   not    uufnspiently,    even   the  bravest   of  oui 


COMMON  A    KRICAN  SKUNK. 


321 


Wing  race  is  by  this  litUe  animal   compelled  suddenly  to  break  of! 
h.s^tra.n  of  thou,..,,  ,M  „,  no.se,  and   run.  as   if  a  lion   were  at  u! 

Among. ho  first  sp...imens  of  natural  history  we  attempted  to  procure 
was  the  SkunK.  and  ,he  sago  advice  to  ••  look  before  you  h-ap."  was  im! 
pressed  on  our  mind,  through  several  ofour  senses,  by  , his  species 

It  happened  in  our  e.-rly  schoo!-boy  .lays,  that  once,  when  ,ho  ^un  had 
just    o,.  as  we  were  slowly  wending  our  way  home  from  the  house  of 

e.ghbour  we  observe.l  in  the  path  before  us  a  pretty  little  animal  play. 
f«I  as  a  k.tten,  moving  <,u.etly  along :  soon  it  stopped,  as  if  waitn' I 
us  to  come  near,  throwing  up  its  long  bushy  tail,  turning  round  and  Took- 
.at  us  hko  some  old  acquaintance:   we  pause  and  gaze  ;   what  istf 
It  .H  not  a  yorng  puppy  or  a  cat ;  it  is  more  gentle  than  either;  it  seems 
de^rous  to  keep  com  any  w^^  us.  and   like  a  pet  poodle.  app;ars  m^s 
appy  when  onlyafew  paces  in  advance.  precedh,g  us    ns''      o  Iw 
1.0  path:  what  a  pretty  creature  fo  carry  home  in  our  a.-ms !  it  seems 
00  .en.le  to  b,te  ;   let  us  catch  it.     We  run  towards  it ;   it  makes  no  " 
o  t  .o  esca,.o,  bat  waits  for  us  ;  it  raises  =ts  tail  as  if  to  invite  us  to  take 
•-•<  of  us  brash.     We  seize  it  instanter,  and  grasp  it  with  the  en  r^v  of 
amzser  clutclung  a  box  of  dhmonds  ;  a  short  struggle  ensues,  w  "en- 
faugh  !  we  are  suffocated  ;  our  eyes,  n  so.  and  face,  are  suddenly  ,^^ 
tered  w.th  the  most  horrible  fetid  fluid.     Imagine  to  yourself,  reader  our 
surpns^,  our  disgust,  the  .sickening   feelings  that  aLst   overcome   us 
We  drop  our  pr.ze  and  take  to  our  heels,   too  .stubborn  to  cry.  bat  too 
n,uch  a  armed  and  discomfited  just  now.  to  take  another  look  at    he 
cause  of  our  misfortune,  and  effectually  undeceived  as  to  the  real  cha! 
meter  of  this  .seemmgly  mild  and  playful  little  fellow 

We  have  never  felt  that  aversion  to  the  n.usky  odour  imparted  by 
many  spee,e,  of  the  ferine  tribe  of  animals,  that  others  evince;  but  w 
are  obliged  to  admit  that  a  close  proximity  to  a  recently  killed  Skunk 
nas  ever  proved  too  powerful  for  our  olfactories.      We  recollect  an  in-' 
stance  when  sickness  of  the  stomach  and  vomiting  were  occasioned  in 
several   persons  reading  in  Saratoga  county,  N.  Y.,  in  consequence  of 
one  of  this  species  having  been   killed  under  the  floor  of  their  residence 
during  the  night      We  have  seen  efforts  made  to  rid  clothes  which  have 
been  sprinkled  by  a  Skunk,  of  the  offensive  odour:  resort  was  had  to 
burymg  ,hem  in  the  earth,  washing,  and  using  perfumes;  but  after  be- 
mg  buried  a  month  they  came  forth  almo.st  as  offensive  as   when  thev 
had  first  been  placed  in  the  ground  ;  and  as  for  the  application  of  odorT- 
erous  preparations,,  it  seemed  as  if  all  the  spices  of  Araby  could  neither 
weaken  nor  change  the  character  of  this  overpowering  and  nauseating 


WW 

H 

% 

^^B 

II 

I  ^^H 

II 

1 

' 


n  ! 


I' 


: 


J22 


COMMON  AMERICAN  SKUNK. 


M 


fluid.     Washing  and  exposure  to  the  atmosphere  certainly  weaken  the 
scent,  hut  the  wearer  of  clothes  that  have  oeen  thus  infected,  should  he 
accidentally  stand  near  the  fire  in  a  close  room,  may  chruice  to  be  morti- 
fied by  being  reminded  that  he  is  not  aUogetber  free  from  the  conse- 
quences of  an   "  unpleasant "  hunting   ex-,  u-sion.      We  have,  however, 
found  chloride  of  lime  a  most  effectual  disinfectant  when  ap])licd  to  our 
recent  specimens.     That  there  is  something  very  acrid  in  the  fluid  eject- 
ed by  the  Skunk,  cannot  be  doubted,  when  we  consider  its  effects.     Dr. 
Richardson  states  ihat  he  knew  several  Indians  who  lost  their  eyesight 
in  consequence  of  inflammation  produced  by  its  having  been  thrown  into 
them  by  the  animal.     The  instant  a  dog  has  received  a  discharge  of  this 
kind  on  his  nose  and  ej^es,  he  appears  half  distracted,  plunging  his  nose 
into  the  earth,  rubbing  the  sides  of  his  face  on  the  leaves  and  grass,  and 
rolling  in  every  direction.     We  have  known  several  dogs,  from  the  eyes 
of  which  the  swelling  and  inflammation  caused  by  it  did  not  disappear 
for  a  Week  ;  still  we  have  seen  others,  which,  when  on  a  raccoon  hunt, 
did  not  hesitate,  in  despite  of  the  consequences,  to  kill  every  Skunk  thev 
started,  and  although  severely  punished  at  the  time,  they  showed  no  re- 
luctance to  repeat  the  attack  the  same  evening,  if  a  fresh  subject  pre- 
sented itself. 

This  offensive  fluid  is  contained  in  two  small  sacs  situated  on  each 
side  of  the  root  of  the  tail,  and  is  ejected  through  small  ducts  near  the 
anus.  We  have  on  several  occasions  witnessed  the  manner  in  which 
this  secretion  is  discharged.  When  the  Skunk  is  irritated,  or  finds  it 
necessary  to  defend  himself,  he  elevates  his  tail  over  hih  back,  and  by  a 
strong  muscular  exertion  ejects  it  in  two  thread-li'e  streams  in  the  direc- 
tion  in  which  the  enemy  is  observed.  He  appears  to  take  an  almost  un- 
erring aim,  and  almost  invariably  salutes  a  dog  in  his  face  and  eyes. 
Dr.  RicuARDsoN  states  that  ho  ejects  this  noisome  fluid  lor  upwards  oi 
four  feel ;  in  this  he  has  considerably  underrated  the  powers  of  this  natu- 
ral syringe  of  the  Skunk,  as  we  measured  the  distance  on  one  occasion, 
when  it  extended  upwards  of  fourteen  feet.  The  notion  of  the  old 
authors  that  this  fluid  is  the  secretion  of  the  kidneys,  thrown  to  a  dis- 
tance  by  the  aid  of  his  long  tail,  must  be  set  down  among  (he  vulgar 
errors,  for  in  that  case  whole  n(!ighl)ourhoods  would  be  compelled  to 
breath  a  tainted  gale,  as  Skunks  are  quite  connnon  in  many  parts  of  the 
country. 

The  Skiuik,  in  fact,  is  a  very  cleanly  animal,  and  never  suffers  a  drop 
of  this  fluid  to  touch  his  fur;  we  have  fre(iu<iii1ly  been  at  the  mouth  ol' 
his  burrow,  and  although  a  dozen  Skunks  might  be  snugly  sheltered 
within,  we  could  not  detect  the  slightest  unpleasant  smell,     lie 


;s  ;is 


COMMON  AMERICAN  SKUNK. 

sufJe    h,s  body  to  come  m  contact  with  his  poisonous  fangs. 
Should  the  hkunk  make  a  discharge  from  this  all-conquerin.  batterv 
unng      e  day,  the  fluid  is  so  thin  and  transparent  thai  it  is^caTe 
percept,  ie;   but  at  night  it  has  a  yellowish  luminous  appearance        e 
have  nouced  .t  on  several  occasions,  and  can  find  no  more  apt  iom 
panson  than  an  attenuated  stream  of  phosphoric  light      ThatT 
wh.e  a  S,,„,  Has  been  killed  will  be^aiLd  L  a^slt  ^  ^ 
^  well   known       At  a  place    where   one  had  been   killed  in  autum.  ' 
we  remarked  that  the  scent  was  still  tolerably  strong  after  the  tZ 
had  thawed  away  the  following  spring.     Generally,  however    the  spo 
has  scented  by  the  Skunk  is  not  particularly  ofrens';e  after  the  exZ 
t.on  of  aweek  or  ten  days.      The  smell  is  more  perceptible  at  n'gh 
and  m  damp  weather,  than  during  the  day  or  in  a  drou-^ht  ^ 

of^esTTf  "''''  "''"'"^'^  "^^"^'^^  ''^"^  comained  in  the  sacs 
of  the  Skunk,  have  not,  so  far  as  we  are  advised,  been  fully  ascertained 

fluid  ;'/^'^"-"^"^"'/'^^™»'«t«'-«J  ^o  an  asthmatic  patient  a  drop  of  this 
fluKl    hree  tmies  a  day.      The  invalid  was    greatly    benefited     n  1  V 
secretions,  However,  were  soon  aflected  to  such  a  degree    thlt'e'  be 
h..  ly  offensive  both  to  himself  and  to  those  near'     m     Ihe    X 
co^  .n..ed  the  „.edicine,  but  after  having  been  apparently  we  1 " 
me,  the  djsease  returned.     He  again  called  on  the  doctor  for  ad  i  e 
1.0  o''' «-    tned  recipe  was  once  more   recommended,  but    h     pat;;; 
deemed  taku.g  .t,  declaring  that  the  remedy  was  worse  than  the  d  KC 
VVe  were  once  requested  by  a  venerable  clergyman,  an  este  med  menV 
who  had  for  many  years  been  a  martyr  to  violent  narox-.m!  of      1 
to  procure  for  him  the  glands  of  a  Skunk  ;  w  flc    Record Z    !  tT        ' 
;^i;^^i;^^^^-^^^^^_^^i^  were  kept  tightl^  ^^ i      t:C 
.^I'l'rJd   ^^     "^^  ^''''''  '"^ '''  "°^^  ^^''^"  ''^  Woms  of  his  dilei:: 
For  some  time  he  believed  that  he  had  found  a  specific  for  his  dis- 
tressu^g  oomplamt;  we  were  however  subsequently  informed    thaUnv 
.ng  uncorKcd    the  bottle  on  one    occasion    wlule  i  the  pulii     du  •  ^ 
•service,  las  congregation  finding  the  smell  too  powerful  for  their  otcto" 
ne^made  a  hasty  retreat,  leaving  him  nearly  alone  in  the  church 

We  a^e  under  an  impression,  that  the  difliculty  of  preparing  specimen, 
of  th,s  ammal  may  be  to  a  considerable  extent  obviated,  by  a  p  op 
care  u.  captur.ng  .t.     If  it  has  been   worried  and  killed  b;  a  dog  X 
M.nga  rece...  .peeinu-n  i..  almost  insu„,.or,al.le ;  but  if  killnl  by  a  sudden 
l^.ow.   u-sho,    .a  avi.al    par.,  so  as  ,o  produ-..   insU...   d..a.h,  .he  SkuH. 


224 


oOMMON  AMERICAN  SKUNK. 


*i:i 


emits  no  unolcasniit  odour,  and  the  preparation  of  a  s[)eciin('n  is  cvti. 
less  unpleusant  tluin  stuffing  a  mink.  We  liave  soon  several  that  wore 
crushed  in  doufhalls,  that  were  in  nowise  qlFensive.  We  liad  one  of 
their  i)ini'ows  opened  to  within  a  foot  of  the  (!xtreinit,y,  wJH^re  t\w,  animals 
wore  iiuddled  tofijelher.  Placing  ourse!vt!s  a  few  yards  t)ir,  we  suli'oiod 
tlioni  iiuceessively  to  come  out.  As  they  slowly  onioi-f^'od  and  wore  walk- 
ing off,  they  were  killed  with  coarse  shot  aimed  at  the  shoulders.  In  the 
course  of  half  an  hour,  seven,  (the  number  contained  in  the  burrow,)  wore 
obtained  ;  one  only  was  ollc!isivc,  and  we  wc^re  enabled  without  incon- 
vonionoo  to  prepare  six  of  ihein  for  spoeimons. 

The  Skuidc  does  not  support  a  good  character  among  the  farmers,  lie 
will  sometimes  find  his  way  into  the  poultry-house,  and  make  some  havoc 
with  the  setting  hens;  he  seems  to  hiive  a  peculiar  |)oiK'hant  for  eggs, 
and  is  not  very  jjarticular  whether  they  h.'ive  boon  newly  laid,  or  contain 
pretty  large  rudiments  of  the  young  chicken ;  yet  he  is  so  slow  and  clum;>y 
in  his  movements,  and  creates  such  a  commotion  in  the  poultry-house, 
that  he  usually  sets  the  watch-dog  in  motion,  and  is  generally  detected 
in  the  midst  of  his  depredations;  when,  retiring  to  some  corner,  he  is 
either  seized  by  the  dog,  or  is  made  to  fool  the  contents  of  the  farmer's 
Ibwling  piece.  In  fact  the  poultry  have  far  more  formidable  enemies 
th  vn  the  Skunk.  The  ermine  and  brown  v/easol  are  in  this  respect  rivals 
with  which  his  awkward  powers  cannot  compare ;  and  the  mink  is  a 
more  successful  prowler. 

The  Skunk  is  so  slow  in  his  actions,  that  it  is  difRcult  To  discover  ii. 
what  manner  he  obtains  food  to  enable  him  always  to  appear  in  good 
condition.  In  the  northern  part  of  New- York  the  gray  rabbit  frecpiently 
retires  to  tlie  burrow  of  the  fox,  Maryland  marmot,  or  Skiud<.  Many  of 
them  remain  in  these  retreats  during  the  day.  We  have  soon  the  tracks 
jf  the  Skunk  in  the  snow,  on  the  trail  of  tlie  gray  rabbit,  loading  to  those 
holes,  and  ha>'e  observed  tufts  of  hair  and  patches  of  skin  scattered  in 
the  vicinity,  betokening  that  the  timid  animal  had  been  destroyed.  We 
on  one  occasion  marked  a  nost  of  the  rull'od  grouse,  {T.  innhdlns.)  with 
tijo  mtontion  of  placing  llie  eggs  under  a  ooimnon  hen  a  few  days  before 
they  shouid  hatch,  but  upoii  going  after  ihem  we  found  thoy  hnd  been 
eaton,  and  the  feathers  of  the  grouse  wore  lying  about  the  nest.  Believ- 
ing the  depredator  to  hf.ve  boon  an  ermine,  we  placed  a  box-trii|)  near 
llie  spot  baited  with  a  bird  ;  and  on  the  suooooding  night  cainrlit  a 
Skunk,  wliioli  wo  dnuljt  not  wiis  the  robber.  This  spocios  also  foods  on 
mice,  froirs,  and  liziirds ;  ;ind  during  suiiiinor  no  ineonsidoriiblo  |)oilion 
of  its  li)()(l  oonsisis  ol'  insects,  as  its  oxoromonts  usually  exhibit  the  leg.s 
.iud  backs  oi'a  coiisidii'ablo  number  of  boollo.s. 


COMMON  AMERICAN  SKUNK. 

"•"•I  i"  a  «-ar„h  „r.„„  ;t;;        '*'"■'  ""■" »"  >"«' ''-» »Me ,. 

aro  ....c,„,-„,.|  .uumni,  „,„,  „,.    "     "    "  •'  ,„„y„„e„.     F„,,,„„,,„3|    ,^_,,^ 

f<li".,l<  vvl„.„cv,.r  (,c  can  ],„  l,„r    I'  .  ^  °"''  '"''"  '"  ''««"-"y  a 

wc  ,,h.,c„ea  w„  ,.„,„,„  .,.„„„,  ;  l^  PJP-I  a,  a  .,p„„i^„, 

eonoIiulfMl  from  hence    that  -is  ■.  h,,.  ?.  '"'""■''''  ''^"'l  w« 

choice  in  selecting  hi/fo^l;;;'.7"T,"["  '"^  '""'>'  ^«  '^'^  ^-X 
onit.     Whi.tW.nn.a,on:^::;:^        ;::;^;'--^^^^  -ke  a  .e.^ 

a  large  bird  of  some  spocirs  ,?.....-  /  T^ ''"^  *'^''"'"?.  ^e  observccj 
^-<1-M.n.„e,  and  .^  ,^  '  ^  l''^"""""'  ^"'^  --"'-'y 
'^-'•''^"  -  oh,  C,.a..vo,x  ha^dliX.  r^/T  '^"^"^"^  "" 

«pot  on  the  (ollowing  day    and  found t  ""''•     ^^"  ^''^'^^•'  ^»'« 

'-in.   n.ornin,   found    ou     til    h  7  '"  ^'"^  ^'"'"'^y'  «-'»  ""  the  fo|. 

wMH.hadevi.^nt,,eL:dth:ir  .rrn-r^T  ^-'  "-. 
.'^'v,"  ,.muvia  there  was   no  ehnin.  I.  .        '""/^'^"nk.  •^'^  in  point  of  ofTen. 

-iy  very  easily  taken  t^^^  I  t^^Tt  ",  '"'"  '''''^  ''  ^-- 
"i'iin.  .o  taKe  the  bait.  whetL  i  J  et  Z  '"f  1"'  "'  ^^"^^'^-^^ 
«.v.-if,  annoyance  to  the  hunters  whoso  .  '  '^''  ''"''  P''^^'''^  « 

•-urn.  The  burrows  of  n^^.rk;Vr,'"."^  '"^  ^'"'  "•^''^  ^^ 
">-  .>f  the  fox.     They  are  ^         v    bu  T  T""'  ^"  '''  ""^  ^^an 

''""■s  of  the  fox   are   Ire   f^      "    t  H  ""  1  ^""^  '"''^'"^'  ^^'^''^^  ^he 

h.-.vo  seldom  more  than  oe  en'       T,  "  /'^  '''"'^  «^  '^  '""•     They 

>"uch  nearer  the  surfacet  a  f  that  ''"'""T  •'"^'  "'y  ^'-^  ^kunk  runs 
i..^'  seven  or  eight  fee  at  .1  h  ,  ""T"'  '^'  ^'"  '"''•  ^'^^^  •'■^"•n<'- 
r-.-,  there  is  a  hu-^e  ex  av^  ,;  '  •'  ''''''''  ^^^°  ''''  ^--^'»'  the  sur- 

•^'■•-•■'nngwinte;.^  :;  ,:;  r;;-^  --—  "-t  of  , eaves, 
""■s  species.     There  a,,     on      !  ^     "'    "'^  "^'^  '"  "'"""^^"  i-lividuals  o, 


320 


COMMON  AMKRICAN  SKUNK. 


n 


This  imiiiiiil  «;ciuTnlly  n.t.ros  to  his  burrow  about  Dcccmbor,  in  thf 
Noillierii  States,  and  liis  tracks  arc,  not  aj;ain  visible  until  near  tht 
tenth  of  Fel)riiary.  lie  lays  up  no  winter  store;  and  like  the  bear,  rac- 
coon, and  Maryland  marmot,  is  very  lat  on  retiring  t(.  his  winter  ciuaricra, 
and  docs  not  seem  to  be  iv.ncli  reduced  in  flesh  at  his  lirst  appcaraiuM^ 
toward  spring,',  but  is  observed  to  fall  oil"  soon  afterwards.  He  is  not  a 
sound  sleeper  on  theses  occasioiis ;  on  openiai,'  his  burrow  we  found  him, 
although  dull  and  inactive,  certainly  not  asleep,  as  his  black  eyes  were 
peering  at  us  from  the  hole,  into  which  we  had  made  an  opciuing,  seem- 
ing to  warn  us  not  to  place  too  uuich  reliance  on  the  hope  of  finding  this 
striped  "weasel  asleep." 

In  the  upper  districts  of  Carolina  and  Georgia,  where  the  Skunk  is 
(tccasionally  found,  he,  like  the  raccoon  in  the  Southern  States,  docs  iu)t 
retire  to  winter  (juarters,  but  continues  actively  prowling  about  during 
the  night  through  the  winter  months. 

A  large  Skunk,  which  hail  been  in  the  vicinity  of  our  place,  near  New- 
York,  lor  two  or  three  days,  was  oiu-  morning  observed  by  our  gardener 
in  an  old  barrel  with  only  one  head  in,  which  stood  upright  near  our 
stable.  Tlic  animal  had  probably  jumped  into  it  from  an  adjoining  pile 
of  logs  to  devour  an  egg,  as  our  hens  were  in  the  habit  of  laying  about 
the  yard.  On  being  discovered,  tlu^  Skmdt  remaiiu-d  (piietly  at  the  bottom 
of  the  barrel,  appiU-ently  unable  to  get  out,  cither  by  clind)ing  or  by  leap- 
ing from  the  bottom.  \Vc  killed  him  by  throwing  a,  large  stone,  into  the 
open  barrel  ; — he  did  not  make  the  least  effort  to  eject  the  nauseous  fluid 
with  which  he  was  jjrovided.  Had  he  not  been  discovered,  he  would  no 
doubt  have  died  of  starvation,  as  he  had  no  means  of  escaping.  At  times, 
especially  during  the  summer  season,  t\w  Skunk  smells  so  strongly  of  ihe 
fetid  lliiid  contained  in  his  glands,  that  win-n  one  or  two  hundred  yards 
disKui!.  it  is  easily  known  that  he  is  in  the  ncighboiu-hood. 
*  We  doubt  not  the  flesli  of  the  Skunk  is  well  tasted  and  savoury.  We 
observed  it  cooked  and  eiiten  by  the  Indians.  The  meat  was  white  and 
fat,  iiiul  they  in-onounced  it  better  than  the  opossum,— infinitely  superior 
to  tlie  riiceoon.  (which  llu'V  called  riink  meat.)  and  fully  eipial  to  roast 
piii-.  We  now  regret  that  our  sipa-amishness  prcventiMl  us  from  trying  it 
We  have  seen  the  young  early  in  May  ;  tlierc  were  from  five  to  nine 

in  a  litter. 

The  fur  is  rather  coarse.  It  is  seldom  used  by  the  hatters,  and  never 
wp  think  by  the  furriers  ;  and  from  the  disngreeablt^  task  of  pr«'pariiig 
the  skin,  it  is  not  considcrcil  an  article  of  eoimnerce. 


COMMON  AMERICAN  SKUNK. 

OEOrSRAPHICAJ,    DISTRIHirno.V 


327 


i.u.         „r  „7  .     VV„  liavc  ,„«  will,  it  l,„i|,  i„  y       ,  „,„|  , 

(1.     1     I  ««"""ih.     i[  IS  not  unlr(^(juent,  y  met  w  I h  in 

CImrcl,  1  ,.r,«l,  l,y  l.,,,r,,„„  ,;„„„,„  f^  „,.,,  r„„a,-,l,..l  a,  • 

great  cunosily  by  tho  irihal)if-...ts!      if  i.  r,-"*"  (i  ,is  .i 

mil,.s  rro,n  fh;.  i        "  "'^'''t'l  '^s-     It  l.ocomos  moro  common  a  h.m.lrod 
m  ,  s  <ro,n  fh  .  s.-ahoar,!,  and  is  not  unCmiu-nfly  nu,t  will,  i,,  ,1..  sand 
■lis   n..ar  Columbia.     To  the  south   wo   have  tLed  it  to  th    tZn 
parts  o,   Flop.  a.  and  have  seen  it  in   Louisiana.     To  the   west 
'.-.   seen  us  far  as  the  banks  of  the   Mississippi.      U.y..  and  C  . 
-.1  others,  frenuently  saw  8kunl<s  west  of  the'Rocky  Moun     ns    n  a" 
hen-   w.nter  encan,.men,s.  but  we  have  as  yet  had  no  means  of  ascer 
tauju.fr  that  they  were  of  this  species. 

OENERAI,    REMARKS. 

SUu!r^'\-"  '';  '"'  "'•■"■'  '"  ''^"•"^^'^'""  '''  -'--  -  the  American 
sum  k  as  oi  much  .mportance  in  deciding  on  the  species,  and  hence,  have 

.ejected  as  mere  vanetios,  all  those  that  can  only  be  .listin^uished  A-om 

'■"^h   o.   erby  the.r   markings,  we  nevertheless  dider  very  widely  f 

Haron    (,„v,er    (Ossemens   Fossiles,  iv.)  and   others,   who   treat  all     h" 

A.nencaa  Mephites  as  mere  varieties.     We  have  exa.nined     ncl  cot 

pared  many  specunens  in  the  museums  of  Europe  an.l  America,  and  p<.s. 

ess  others  from  Texas  and  other  portions  of  the  United  Stated,  and     e 

..M-1  conhdent  that  both  in  North  and  South  America  several  ver;  distinct 

hi::X:r^  tl  ;'"  ^'""^^^""■'  ^^  ^^^  '"-^^^^^  •-  ^'"^  Presen^ork.  to 

...     st.g.Ue  the.r  characters,  and  describe  those  species  that  are  found 

......  the  range  to  which  we  have  restricted  our  in,uiries.     We  have 

...  the  uKtseoms  of  Lonclon  examined  and  cou.pare.l  the  species  describe.l 

>>  n.'..N.n-,  (P..oceel    Zool.  Soc,  lH,n,  p.  ,,,)  as  M.  nasnta,  which  appear. 

..  Lave  bee.  jmn.ous.y  described  by  Dr.  L,e.,TE.s.rE,.v.  of  Berlin,  under 
•l.enameof  M.  mrsdmcn,  (Darst.  der  Saugeth.  tab.  11,  fi..  o),,,  .,,,„ 
several  species  characterized  by  Crav,  (Magazine  of  Nat.  Hist.'  1837  ,- 


■X^l^> 


;  i 


328 


COMMON  AMERICAN  SKUNK. 


tTo  Dr  '- -'-om..!  ,o  ..,„.  SkunL     W.  are  under  ohli,.-. 

^r.iph,  (U,  her  the  G.tffuns  Mephitis,  Berlin,  18.18,)   in   sixtv-five  n-iires 
nuarto,  w,th  phUes.  which  contains  nn.h  h>a,-ne.l  .•esl-eh.  .^^^J;!^ 
extended  onr  previous  knowledge  of  the  ,enus.     He  describes  se^  t     n 
spec.es,  aW    w.th  one  African  exception.  beh.n«in,  to  North  and  S  u 
Amenca.     North  of  Texas,  however,  he  recognises  only  two  species 
present,  and  Mrj>,u,s  intern,,,,,  of  R.,..,.,.,,,  ;  ,,,  ..^ter,  howev  r  's   M 
-pures  a  n.ore   careful  comparison.     All  our  An^eriean  autho  I  h 
-.ppl.ed  the  name  ^/ey,/./.  Amrricn,,,  of  D.sm.h.s.,  to  our  present  ^^^ 
ces.     It  .s  now  ascertained,  however,  that  T.r.n.M...  descrihLl  it  twe  v. 
years  earher  under  the  nan,e  of  T^f.  ./..,.,,  which,  according  to   he       "d 
tZTl  natural.s.s  teel   bound  to  adhere,  must  he  r^a.ned    a 
'.ve  therelore  have  adopted  it 


t  i 


!     ', 


mnsR  collection 
vd  museums  in 
productions  of 
^1  species  are 
'  unrler  ohlifr-, 
Hff  neuer  oder 
ontains  fif,'ures 

Also  a  mono- 
ixty-five  pafifes 
tnd  lias  greatly 
l)(!s  seventeen 
rth  and  South 
vo  species,  the 

however,  still 
authors  have 
ir  present  spe- 
lled it  twelve 
ig  to  the  rigid 
retained,  and 


N"0 


XI. 


Il 


iiiuwn.ji,  ;,r.M^  iv  W  K  Ihi.'iiv..!  k 


M 


I. 


vf  /'('     ■'    ■'(/ 1  /  /  /"  /'r 


/ 


nr,,wT,linn,N..li,„-l,v  .1  .1   ,^„.l,lb^,n  J'HIW'I.S 


|,,i.li'i',„,i,.,i;ir,.|ii,^  ,n  b„w.-n  I'ImW- 


ri.ilr   XI. I 


i 


I  Tbuwrn  IMmIj.!- 


Ill 


329 


SCIURUS  LEPORINUS.-Ai;d.  ano  Bacl 

Hare  Squirrei,. 

PLATE  XLIII. 

S  magnitudine  S.  cinereum  inter  et  S.  migrutorium  intermedium; 
Cauda  corpore  longiore,  crassa  maximeque  disticha;  vellere  supra  ex 
cmereo  lusco ;  subtus  albo. 

CHARACTERS. 

Intermediate  in  size  between  the  Northern  gray  squirrel  and  the  cat 
sqmrrcl.  r,nl,  longer  than  the  body,  large  and  distichous;  colour,  grayish- 
brown  above,  white  beneath.  '<=>     J 

SYNONYME. 

^""Sptb^rsir/roL  "^  ^'^'•'  '''"""'^^^  °'  ^'^  ^'='^-  '^^  ^'^'-  «"■••  ^^ 

DESCRIPTION. 

Head,  Of  moderate  size;  nose,  blunt,  covered  with  short  hairs;  fore- 
head  arched;  eyes,  large;  whiskers,  numerous,  extending  to  the  ears- 
cars  broad  at  base,  rounded  at  the  edges,  and  forming  an  obtuse  angfe 
at  the  extremity,  clothed  with  sharp  hairs  on  both  surfaces.  Body  stout 
covered  by  a  coat  of  thick  but  rather  short  hair,  coarser  than  that'of  the' 
Northern  gray  squirrel;  limbs,  large,  and  rather  long;  tail,  distichous, 
but  not  very  bushy. 

COLOUR. 

Teeth,  orange;  whiskers,  black;  nose,  dark  brown;  ears,  light  browt, 
behind  the  ears,  a  tuft  of  soft  cotton-like,   whitish  tv-      The  hairs  of 
the  back  are  cinereous  at  the  roots,  then  light  brc  ,     .,re  tipped 

with  brown  and  black,  giving  it  so  much  the  colour  c  k  ^  ^.hsh  hare 
that  we  determined  to  born.w  from  it  our  specific  name.  Un'ihe  sides 
the  colour  is  a  shade  lighter  than  on  the  back  ;  the  tail,  which  from' 
the  broad  white  tips  of  the  hair,  has  a  white  appearance,  is  t)rown  at 
tne  ro(»i8,  and  three  times  annulated  with  black.     The  upper  lips  chin 


m 


1 

.'I 

■ 

330 


IIAKK    t(HllJllKI„ 


I 


!     I 


',  ! 


I 


Inchon. 
11 

LInM 
0 

12 

e 

0 

8 

2 

0 

6 

0 

iii'tk,  !in<l  wliolo  under  Biirfaco,  iiv-ludiiifj  tho  innor  siirfnco  of  tlio  IcgH 
rt'hito;  the  Imir  bciii^'  of  this  colour  from  tho  roots.  Fi-ct,  dull  yillouisli! 
Hhili'.  On  thf  oiilfr  Mirliu-i'of  thu  hind  li-t?,  ahove  tho  hi.l,  a  xinall  porlion 
of  tho  fur  is  liiown;  thoro  is  also  a  spot  of  tiic  sanio  colour  on  liic  ujipcr 
surtitcu  of  ihu  liind-fuut. 


DIMENHI0N8. 

Length  of  liead  and  body 

"        "  tail  .... 

Ileiglit  of  ear  .... 

Ileel  to  end  of  middle  claw 
ISreadlh  of  tail  with  luiiis  extended 

HAniTS. 


Tills  pppcios,  which  is  one  of  oin'  most  beautifully  furred  Siiuirrels,  is 
eN|)ei'ially  rcmiirkalilc  for  its  splendid  tail,  with  its  broad  while  border.  Wu 
know  nothing  of  its  habits,  as  it  was  brought  from  California,  without  any 
other  information  than  that  of  it8  locality. 

We  have  represented  two  of  these  Scpiirrels  in  our  plate,  on  a  branch  of 
liickory,  with  a  bunch  of  nearly  ripe  nuts  attached. 


OEoon^vrnicAL  DisTuinuTioN. 

The  range  of  this  Squirrel  through  California,  is,  as  well  ns  its  habits 
totally  unknown  to  us.  It  will  not  be  very  long,  however,  we  think,  bet()re 
a  great  deal  of  information  respecting  that  portion  of  our  continent,  so 
rich  in  rare  and  new  species,  luay  be  expected,  and  we  should  not  be 
surprised  to  lind  it  extending  toward  the  south-western  portions  of  Texas, 
where  several  sjtecies  of  Squirrels  that  we  have  not  obtained,  are  said  to 
e.xist. 

OENEnAI.  UEMAUKS. 

This  species,  in  its  general  appearance,  so  mncb  rp-ienibh-s  Bomc 
varieties  of  A'-vVwv^s  inujmtiirius  and  S.  i'i/iercii.%  tiiat  U:ul  it  noi  been  for 
its  distant  western  locality,  wc  should  at  first  have  been  temined  to  set 
it  down,  without  further  examination,  as  one  or  other  of  those  species. 
Tlieic  can,  however,  be  no  doubt,  from  its  differing  in  size  and  in  so  many 
di'tiiN  of  colour  from  all  other  sjx'eies,  that  it  must  be  r-garded  as 
distitvt.       ?v  should   be    further   observed   that   S.   iniyratoriiia    has  never 


L--V 


» 

ll- 


HARE  SQUIRREL 


33. 


been  found  souih  o    Missouri,  ami  that  .V.  c,„er.«.  is  not  four..)   Mvst  of 
he  M,ss.ss.pp,      ,„  ecd.the   .e  .graphical  range  of  the  Intfcr  tcJinaJ, 
«r.vcM-ai   l.un.h.  !   nuh-s  to  ihe  eas.wunl  of  that  river    a„.|  it    wZ 
co.arary  eo  al.  our  past  experience,  that  a  species  exilu  ^   .  U'        ,^ 
our  connnent  should  he    found  in  another,    separated   l,y  an     xte  t 


e 

8 
0 
6 


332 


f  ,!< 


il 


GENUS  PSEUDOSTOMA— Sat. 

DENTAL    FORMULA. 
_      .    .       8  0—0  4 ( 

Incisive  -  ;     Canine  — - ;  Molar  —  =  20. 

9  0—0  «— 4 

Incisors,  naked,  truncated;  molars,  destitute  of  radicles;  crowns 
simple,  oval ;  anterior  ones,  double. 

Head,  large  and  depressed  ;  nose,  short ;  month,  small. 

The  cheek-pouches  are  large,  and  open  exterior  to  the  mouth. 

The  eyes  are  small  and  far  apart.  The  external  ear  is  very  short  • 
auditory  openings,  large.  Body,  sub-cylindrical  ;  tail,  rather  short,  round, 
tapering  slightly,  clothed  with  short  hairs. 

Legs,  short,  with  five  toes  to  each  foot. 

Burrowing  in  sandy  soils,  feeding  on  grasses,  roots,  nuts,  «fec.,  which 
they  convey  to  their  burrows  in  their  capacious  cheek-pouches,  are  habits 
common  to  this  genus. 

There  are  about  six  well  determined  species  of  Pouched  Rats,  all  ex- 
isting  in  North  America. 

The  generic  name  is  derived  from  ^»t»Jo,  (pseudo,)  fa[se,  aud  irT,^a, 
(stoma,)  a  mouth,  in  allusion  to  the  false  mouths  or  cheek-pouches  of  the 
genus. 


PSEUDOSTOMA    BURS ARIUS.— Shaw 

Canada  Pouched  Rat. 
PLATE  XLIV.— Males,  Female  ato  Youho. 
P.  supra,  rufo-fuscus ;  subtus,  cinereo-fuscus ;  pedibus,  albia. 

CHARACTERS. 

Ktddish-brown  above,  ashy-brown  beneath ;   feet,  white. 


l.ANADA  POUCHED  RAT. 

SYNONYMES. 


333 


Mus  BcRSAKius,  Shaw,  Descript.  of  the  M  Bursari,  .  •    t-       m 

227  to  228.  ilursarj.s  in  Linn.  Transact.,  vol.  v.,  p 

Mds  B.K.SAK.U.S.  Shaw'«  Gen.  Zool.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  loo  pi   138  f,  •  ' 

pouches  unnaturally  inverted  )  '  F    ^"u,  pi.  133,  (figm-eg  ^^jj  ^^^^^^^ 

M"sBuHSA,uus.Mitchill,SillinWs  Journal,  vol  iv    u   18, 
Mus  SAcoArus,  Mitchill    NT   V    M   r    i  .>  '  ^'  ^^^• 

q.„  "^s.  iuiccniu,  IS.  \.,  Medical  Renos  torv  Jm    la.Ji 

Saccophokus  Bursahuvs,  Kuhl.  Beit.,  n   66  ^  ^• 

CKicErf8BuusARa-s,Desm.inNouv.Dict.,H  p   177 

^°'^™-'  vol.  ii.,  p.  90,  fiy.  2. 
n  or,  "  Harlan,  p.  13'(. 

Oeomys?  Bursarius,  Rich,  F.  B.  A.,  p.  203. 

DESCRIPriON. 

Head,  large  ;  nose,  broad  and  obtuse,  covered  wifli  h  ■         •  u 
ception  of  the  margins  of  the  nostril.       uT  ""'''  '^'^^  ^^^  ^'" 

«man  oblong  openFngs  ^11!  aoi;    '     ,  "'  "'''"''  the  nostrils  are 

considerably  vaulted  ^      '  '"'^  '•■'  '^'^  '^'''''  ««P--'«r  margins 

^oove  near  ^^^  rJlC^i;:^J::^:i;^y^^  ^^^P  longitudinal 
the  young,  they  exhibit  only  a  LihH  oove      T  7"  ™^""'"  '  ^" 

the  base  of  their  respective  Alveole  viCtny^lw '"•'':  ''^"''^"^'^  '° 
crowns  are  simply  discoirlnl    t,.  7        ^       '"""  "*^'^  '""ots,  their 

enamel;  the  poslLr  too  L  ^irerr  '  ^^''TT"''  --^-'' ^^  ^1- 
that  of  the  u^er^aw  .as  a  ::::^  ^I^LIT  J:':^-  '''  '''-''  ^'^ 
the  anterior  tooth  is  donhlp    in  """"^"t  angle  on  its  posterior  face; 

n2::;.::c;e;z„r,;:r  °"''  -^--'^  '«^'-  ^'"»^"». «-' 

.beWyi,  broad  ld\^/,X:\''"'''',  r''-  "'»"  »«  ""i- ^ 
the  upper  ,„„!  lower  ,u,.|aoe»  „i  h  Z    l'    ." 'V'""'^'''  °'''"'"''  "•'  'x-h 


33 1 


CANADA  POUCHED  RAT. 


longest,  the  fourth  is  next  in  length,  the  second  shorter,  the  fifth  still 
shorter,  and  the  first  very  short ;  there  is  a  large  callous  protuberance 
on  the  hinder-part  of  the  palms.  On  the  hind-feet  the  toes  are  short, 
and  the  nails  are  very  short,  concave  beneath,  ,ind  rounded  at  tip ;  the 
middle  nail  is  longest,  the  second  almost  as  long,  the  fourth  a  little 
shorter,  the  first  still  shorter,  the  fifth  very  short.  This  Rat  is  planti- 
grade, and  presses  on  the  earth  from  the  heel  to  the  toes. 

The  tail  is  for  one-third  of  its  length  from  the  root  clothed  with  hair 
but  toward  the  extremity  is  naked. 

COLOUR. 

Incisors,  yellow ;  nostrils,  light  pink  i  eyes,  black.  The  fur  is  plum- 
beous from  the  roots  to  near  the  extremity,  where  it  is  broadly  tipped 
with  reddish-brown  ;  on  the  under  surface  it  is  a  little  paler,  owing  to 
the  ends  cf  the  hairs  being  but  slightly  tipped  with  brown. 

The  head  and  the  dorsal  line  are  a  shade  darker  than  the  surrounding 
parts. 

Moustaches,  white  and  black ;  nails,  and  all  the  feet,  white. 

The  colours  here  described  are  those  which  this  species  exhibits  during 
winter  and  the  early  part  of  summer.  Immediately  after  shedding  its 
hair  it  takes  the  colour  of  the  young,  light-plumbeous,  which  gradually 
deepens  at  the  approach  of  winter. 


DIMENSIONS. 

From  nose  to  root  of  tail       •        -  '      - 

95  inches. 

"         "     to  ear 

2       do. 

"        "     to  end  of  pouch 

4i     do. 

Tail               

2i     do. 

Depth  of  pouc'i 

3       do. 

Fore-foot  with  longest  claw 

» 

1|     do. 

Distance  between  the  eyes   .        -        -        - 

I     do. 

Weight  of  largest  specimen,  14 

oz. 

HAblTS. 

During  a  visit  which  we  made  to  the  Upper  Missouri  in  the  spring  and 
bummcr  of  1843,  we  had  many  opportunities  of  studying  the  habits  of  this 
species.  In  the  neighbourhood  of  St.  Louis,  at  the  hospitable  residence 
of  the  late  Pierre  Chouteau,  Esq.,  we  procured  several  of  them  alive, 
in  that  section  of  country  they  arc  called  "  Mu!oc;4 

They  are  considered  by  the  gardeners  in  that  vicinity  as  great  plagues, 
devouring  every  tap-root   vegetable,  or  grass,  within  their  reach,  and 


CANADA  POUCHED  RAT 

33j 

perforating  the  earth  in  every  direction,   not  only  at  ni^^ht    h.,^  nf> 
times  during  the  day.  ""'7  at  night,  but  often. 

FI.-ivi„g  observed  some  freshly  thrown  up  mounds  in  Mr.  Chouteau'- 
garden,  several  servants    were  .ailed,  and  set  to  work   to  d^!  out  the 

ed  by  the  Muloes,  „,  chlTcrent  directions.     One  of  the  main  gallenes  was 
bout  a  loot     eneath  the  surface  of  the  ground,  exeept  wh  re  i    ^    i 
under  the  walks,  m  which  places  it  was  sunk  rather  lower.     We  Z 
up  this  ent  re   "-allorv    wliw.I.   i,„i  .  Turin  d 

ualks    intn        7        7'  ,        .  '■'"■"''  ■''  ^'''^^   garden-bed  and  two 

h.     b    "^7. "7 ''«'•/•-''    -here  we  discovered    that  several  Pno  plants 
l.acl  been  kdled  by  these  animals  eating  off  their  roots  just  beneath      e 
Bur.ace  of  the  ground.     The  burrow   end.-d  near  these   plant     under  a 
arge  rose-bush.     We  then  dug  out   another   principal    burro  v    bu    it' 
ermmus  was  amongst  the  roots  of  a  large  peach-trel,  some  of  the     a 
o    whch  had  been  eaten  olT  by  these  animals.     We  could  not  captu 
an>   01  them  at  th.s  tune,  owing  to   the  ramifications  of  their  gal  eri  s 
avmg  escaped  our  notice  whilst  following  the  main  burrows.     5n  ea  e 
tuly  exannnmg  the  ground,  we  discovered  that  several  galleries  ex "d 
that  appeared  :c  run  entirely  out  of  the  garden  into  the  open  fields  a 
woods   beyond,   so   that   we  were  obliged   to  give  up   the'eha  e      'H 
.pec.es  throws  up   the  earth  in   little   mounds   abouf  twelve  or   fifte 
nches  .nhcght,  at  .regular  distances,  sometimes  near  each  othe     and 
occasional  y  ten.  twenty,  even    thirty  paces  asunder,  generally  o  .'-nt 
nea    a  surface  we  1  covered  with  grass  or  vegetables  of  difi^eren   kills  ^ 
1  lo  ]>oucl.ed  Rat  remains  under  ground  during  cold   weather  in  an 
■nactn-e  s,a  e,  most   probably  ,lor,nant.  as  it  is   not  seen  to  distu  b  th 
surtaceo.   the  earth  until  the  return  of  spring,   when  the  grass  is    v^H 
grown.  b      ->  ifl   will 

The  earth  when  thrown  up  is  broken  or  pulveri.od.  and  as  soon  as  the 
ammal  has  compile    his  galleries  and  chamber,  he  doses  the  a^^^ 
on  the  SK ie  towards  the  sun,  or  on  the  top,  although  more  usually!  the 
SKle,  leaving  a  sort  of  ring  or  openhig  about  the  si.e  of  his  body 

Possessed  of  an  ex,uisi,e  sense  of  hearing,  and  an  acute  ni^e,  at  the 
approach  oi  anyone  travelling  on  ,hc  ground  the  "Muloes"  stp  th  ir 
abours  mstantaneously,  being  easily  alarmed;  but  if  you  retir  so  J 
.wen.y  or  ,lnr,y  paces  ,0  irnrar,  of  the  hole,  and  wait  th'ere  for  a  ,u  2 
;  -  ''•:■"•  ;7'>.  y-«  -ill  «oe  .he"noph,.,."(,no,ber  name  .iven  ,< 
.hese  ammals  by  ,he  iai.abi.an.s  of  ,|.e  S.Ue  of  Missouri).  raisin^Mhe 
eart-.  wnh  las  back  and  shoulders,  and  .oreing  it  out  be.ore  ...1  a  ^u  d 
hnn.  leaving  an  aperture  open  during  ,he  process,     lie  now  runs  a  few 


336 


CANADA   POUCHED   KAT. 


i 


Steps  from  the  hole  and  cuts  the  grass,  with  which  he  fills  his  cheek-pouches, 
and  then  ri  'ires  into  his  burrow  to  eat  it  undisturbed. 

You  may  see  tlie  Pseudostoma  now  and  then  sitting  on  its  rump  and  basking 
in  tlio  rays  of  tlie  sun,  on  which  occasions  it  may  easily  be  shot  if  you  are 
prompt,  but  if  missed  it  disappears  at  once,  is  seen  no  more,  and  will  even  dig 
a  burrow  to  a  considerable  distance,  in  order  to  get  out  of  the  ground  at  some 
other  place  where  it  may  not  be  observed. 

This'  species  may  be  caught  in  steel-traps,  or  common  box-traps,  with  which 
we  i)rocured  two  of  them.  Wlien  caught  in  a  steel-tra[),  they  frequently 
lacerate  the  leg  by  which  they  are  held,  which  is  generally  the  hind  one,  by 
their  struggles  to  get  free.  They  are  now  and  then  turned  up  by  the  plough, 
and  we  have  known  one  caught  in  this  manner.  They  sometimes  destroy  the 
roots  of  young  fruit-trees  to  the  number  of  one  or  two  hundred  in  the  course 
of  a  few  days  and  nights  ;  and  tliey  will  cut  those  of  full  grown  trees  of  the 
most  valuable  kinds,  such  as  the  apple,  pear,  peach  and  plum.  This  species  is 
found  to  vary  in  size  very  greatly  on  comparing  diiferent  individuals,  and  they 
also  vary  in  their  colour  according  to  age,  although  we  found  no  difference 
caused  by  sex. 

The  commonly  received  oinnion  is,  that  these  rats  fill  their  pouches  with  the 
earth  fiom  their  burrows,  and  empty  them  at  the  entrance.  This  is,  however, 
quite  an  erroneous  idea.  Of  about  a  dozen,  which  were  shot  dead  in  the  very 
act  of  rising  out  of  their  mounds  and  burrows,  none  had  any  earth  in  their 
sacs ;  but  the  fore-feet,  teeth,  nose,  and  the  anterior  and  upper  portion  of  their 
heads,  were  found  covered  with  adherent  earth.  On  the  contrary,  most  of 
them  had  their  pouches  filled  with  either  blades  of  grass  or  roots  of  different 
trees  ;  and  W(!  think  of  these  iiouches,  that  their  being  hairy  within,  rather 
eorroborales  the  idea  that  they  are  only  used  to  convey  food  to  their  burrows. 
This  <in'cies  appears  to  raise  up  the  earth  very  much  in  the  manner  of  the 
common  shrewiiuile. 

Wiien  running,  the  tails  of  these  .animals  dr.ag  on  the  ground,  and  they 
hobble  along  at  times  with  their  long  front  claws  bent  underneath  their 
feet  as  it  were,  backwards,  and  never  by  leaps.  They  can  travel  almost 
as  fist  backwards  as  forwards.  When  turned  on  their  backs  they  have 
great  ditfieulty  in  regaining  their  natur.al  position,  and  kick  about  in  the 
air  for  a  minute  or  two  with  their  legs  and  claws  extended,  before  they 
can  turn  over.  They  can  bite  severely  ;  as  their  incisors  by  their  size 
and  sharpness  plainly  indicate ;  and  they  do  not  liesitalc  to  attack  their 
ciicniii's  or  assniiants  with  open  mouth,  squealing  when  in  a  rage  like  the 
coMiinon  Norway  or  wharf  rat,  {Ifim  (kciimanxs.)  When  they  fight 
Miiiong   liiemselves   they  make  great  use    of  their  snouts,    somewhat   in   the 


CANADA  POUCHED  RAT 

337 

«.•  f»re-r„at  and  ,„„,  „,Ls  lew     .  T  he  mat:  7''  ""? 

dunng  that  ti.„e  drank  any  thin,,  although  we  offlred  them  both    ^T 
and  m  k.     We  fed  thom  ^.,  „  1 1  «     ""=  uuprea  tnem  both  water 

Wc  haa  ,„a  a  handkerchief  e„„.:!;!S'jL,^r„e?«  a,       T'f 
securely,  but  thev  discoveml  f,    •,„  1  '  "' ""  """'^'■t 

the  toes,  by  which  they  made  their  exi^      W  '  ''''"^  '  '^>"^'<'  a  hole  at 
four  n,ure,s  of  this  singular  J,te!es  ^"  "'"^"  '"  °"^  ^'^^^ 

e  jr;;rst,  r:::'  if::::;  r  f  r  v^-""'  -^'  ^^  -- 

with  the  hair  of  the  fem-Ue       tT  T    ".      "^'  "'^^'""^^^  ^^  ^^'^^  ^' 

in  a  short  .aUer^^r  Lri  ;    :^ttttL\r  "^' 

others  diverging  to  various  poinfs   at    vh Lh  the  T        '^  """""^'^ 

pursued,  and  most  of  which  lead  'to  L  T'"'"'  '*'"  "^^'^^^  '^ 

ravourite  food  is  abund,!,  ""'^'  ''^  ^™"»'^'^   ^^ere  their 

run  about,  di.  burro i,  and^rovidl  Z  Ulir'  ^^'^  ''"'^  ^'''  ^" 


«E0URAPHI0.\L     DISTRIBUTION 

The    Psri/dosfoma    hiirs(inu,<e   hr 


found 
wes 


md   it  in  .,11  tl.  ,  ''''    "^   '^'''*'   g'^offraphinal   range.     We 

liKi   II.  in  all  those  places  we  visited    •-.«(  „f  .1      i>     1      ,, 
■^(    of  the    \rissi.  ;    .  ;        I  .  "■  '^'*'"''>'  ^^louiUain..  and 

•lie    M.s.,.pp,    ,,,.......    the    soil    and    lood   suited  ....  habit,     h 


338 


UAMADA  POUCHED  llAT. 


has  been  observed  as  far  to  the  north  as  hit.  52°.     It  abounds  iu  Michi 
gan  and  Illinois.     Farther   to  the  south  it  extends  along   the   western 
prairies,  and   it  was  observed  near  the  shores  of  the  Platte,  Arkansas, 
Canadian,  and  lied  Rivers,   lo  lat.  3P,  and  probably  ranges  stil'  further 
to  the  south. 

There  are  Pouched  Rats  in  Texas  and  Mexico,  but  we  are  at  v.«  >.'sent 
unable  to  determine  whether  they  are  ol"  this  species. 

GENERAL    REMARKS. 

The  first  naturalist  who  gave  a  specific  name  to  this  Pouched  Rat  was 
Dr.  SiiAW,  in  the  Linniean  Transactions,  accompanied  by  a  figure  rci)rc- 
senting  it  as  having  only  three  toes.  The  drawing  had  been  made  by 
Major  Davies.  Subsequently  (in  1801)  he  again  described  and  figured  it 
in  his  General  Zoology,  vol.  ii.,  p.  100,  pi.  138.  The  pouches  in  both  eases 
are  inverted,  and  hanging  down  like  long  sacks  on  each  side.  These 
would  be  very  inconvenient,  as  the  animal  could  not  place  its  nose  on  the 
earth  or  fill  its  sacks,  with  such  an  unnatural  appendage  dangling  at  its 
mouth.  The  error  seems  to  have  originated  from  the  whim  or  ignorancit 
of  an  Indian.  It  is  recorded,  that  in  1798  one  of  this  species  was  pre- 
sented by  a  Canadian  Indian  to  the  Lady  of  Governor  Prescott.  Its 
[)ouehes  had  been  inverteil,  filled,  and  greatly  distended  with  earth  ;  and 
from  this  trival  circumstance  an  error  originated  which  has  been  per 
petuated  even  to  the  present  day. 

Rafinesuue,  who  was  either  careless  or  unscrupulous  in  forming  new 
genera  and  species,  and  whose  writings  are  so  erroneous  that  we  have 
seldom  referred  to  him,  contributed  to  create  still  farther  confusion  among 
the  s,  cies  of  this  genus.  He  arranged  them  under  two  genera  :  Geomvs, 
with  eheek-pouches  opening  into  the  mouth,  and  Diplostoma,  with  eheek- 
|)()uches  opening  exterior  to  the  mouth.  This  last  genus  he  characterizes 
by  its  having  no  tail,  and  only  four  toes  on  each  foot.  (Am.  Monthly 
Magazine,  1817.) 

We  consider  it  unfortunate  that  our  friend  Dr.  Richardson  should  have 
nrdopted  both  these  genera,  and  given  several  species  under  each.  We 
have  examined  nearly  all  the  original  specimens  from  which  his  descrip- 
tions   wen?  taken,    and    feel  confident   that  they  all  belong  to   the  genus 

PsEUDOSTDMA,    oI'Sav. 

1m  rcirard  lo  tin*  present  species,  Dr.  Riciiarhson  was  undecided  uiwlcr 
what  genus  it  slumld  be  placed.  Tlie  oppDrtnnities  allbrded  ns  for  milk- 
ing a  ojireCul  examination,  leave  no  room  lor  any  doubt  on  that  snbjc-ct. 

That  there  are  several  species  of  pouched  rals  on   both    sides  of  the 


CANADA  rniir-HED  RAT 

^^-  339 

*o«  ears  a„.l  tail,.     They  live  u„,ler  the  ca  h     L  "'""'""  '"™ 

have  for  yea™  redded  i„  Li,  im,„edL.e      ^,7  alZTr ' ,"  ! 
observe  .race,  of  .heir  exis.e„ee,  have  never  seen  ,L  aataata        '         ' 

h;.i.s  a„d  deserihi„,  .he  ierofVL^^i:     TSlLtT 

^=-.::^:rro?rrerc5c?-rH 

roamed  over  by  fierce  savage  tribes  •  that  tho  Nnni 

T?„.  oc^uiijcs,  mat  me  iXorthern  regions  visitpr?  Kxr 

Richardson  are  exclusively  under  the  cnntml  .♦'  n       .  n  ^ 

aZZ     °'°"  ™'"°''  "P"""'  "^-P^  f™™  'he  Western  shored 
It  is  ao.,  therefore,  surprising,  that  in  order  to  become  acquain.ed  with 

spce,es  and  another  existing  in  Gcorgrind Vflt     jf"  T    =  """"' 
.".probable  that  P..e,..o«o«  ^e„,„L.  ma/X^^Jld  'in  xraT'  ""' 


t!|i 


340 


GENUS  ARVICOLA.— LAoicPEDR. 


DENTAI,    FORMULA. 


)|  _        0—0  3—3 

Incisive  -  ;  Canine  — -  ;    Molar  -— 

9  '  0—0  '  3—3 


10. 


Incisors,  in  the  upper  jaw,  large  and  cuneiform ;  in  the  inCenor  jaw 
sharp. 

Molars,  compound,  flat  on  their  crowns,  the  enamel  forming  angulai 
ridges  on  the  surface. 

Fore-feet,  having  the  rudiments  of  a  thumb,  and  four  toes,  furnished 
with  weak  nails. 

Hind-feet,  with  five  toes,  hairy  on  their  borders,  armed  with  claws. 

Ears,  clothed  with  hair ;  tail,  cylindrical  and  hairy,  shorter  than  the 
body.     From  eight  to  twelve  pectoral  and  ventral  mamma;. 

The  old  family  of  Mus  has  undergone  many  subdivisions.  It  formerly 
included  many  of  our  present  genera.  The  Arvicohc,  by  the  structure  of 
their  teeth,  and  the  hairy  covering  of  their  ears  and  tail,  the  latter  being 
besides  short,  may  advantageously  be  separated  from  the  rest. 

They  burrow  in  the  earth,  and  feed  on  grain,  bulbous  roots  and  grasses  ; 
some  are  omnivorous,  they  do  not  climb,  fre  not  dormant  in  winter,  but 
seek  their  food  during  cold  weather,  eating  roots,  grasses,  and  the  bark 
of  trees. 

There  have  been  about  forty  species  of  Arvicola  described ;  some  ol 
these,  however,  are  now  arranged  under  other  genera.  Some  of  the 
species  are  found  in  each  quarter  of  the  world :  about  seven  species 
inhabit  North  America. 

The  generic  name  is  derived  from  two  Latin  words,  arvus,  a  field,  and 
colo,  I  inhabit. 


341 


ARVICOLA    PENVSYLVANICA—Ord 

Wri.soN's  Meadow-Mouse. 
PLATE   XLV.-Two  figures. 


CHARACTERS. 


Broronishfan,n.colour  above;  heneatk,  grayisk-uMte ;  eyes,  small; 
art  and  round.  ' 


short  and  round. 


ears. 


SYNONYMES. 

Shoht-tailkd  Mouse,  Forster,  Phil  Trans.,  vol.  Ixii.,  p.  380,  N.,   ,8 
Mkaoow  Mo.sk,  Pennant's  Arctic  Zoology,  vol.  i.,  p.  faS 

^''  ^:Z:'C:Sr'  ''"^-^  °^  ^^ss.r^....,  warden.  Description  of  tl,. 
Arvicola  Pennsylvanica,  Ord,  Guthrie's  Geography. 

_  "  "     '"  Wilson's  Ornithology,  vol.  vi..  d1   50  fitr  •» 

"         Pennsylvanica,  Harlan,  F.  A.,  p.  144  ^  ^" 

Arvicola  Aleo-uufesckns,  Emmons,  Mass.  Reports,  p.  60.  variety 
Akvicola  HiitsuTus,  Emmons,  Mass.  Report.  ^' 

Dckay,  Nat.  Hist.  N.  Y.,  p.  86. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Body,  robust,  cylindrical,  broadest  across  the  shoulders;  diminishin.. 
owards  thelo,„s;  fur,  on  the  whole  body,  long  and  fine,  but  not  lus! 
trous,  on  the  upper  surface  (in  winter  specimens)  half  an  inch  ion- 
but  not  more  than  half  that  length  beneath. 

Head,  large  and  conical;  forehead,  arched;  nose,  rather  blunt;  in- 
c  ors,  projecting;  eyes,  small,  situated  equidistant  from  the  auditory 
opemn  and  the  pomt  of  the  nose ;  the  longest  whisker.s,  about  the  length 
of  the  head:  nos  nls.  lateral;  nose,  bilobate,  clothed  with  short  hai^; 
hps  frnged  with  longer  hairs;  mouth,  beneath,  not  terminal ;  ears 
large,  ounded,  membranous,  concealed  by  the  fur,  naked  within,  excep 
.long  the  margms.  where  they  have  a  few  long  soft  hairs;  auricula, 


342 


WILSON'S  MEADOW-MODSE. 


m 


opening,  large.  The  neck  is  so  short  that  the  head  and  shoulders  seem 
united,  like  those  of  the  .shrew-mole. 

Fore-feet  slender,  having  four  toes  and  a  thumb,  which  is  furnished 
with  a  sharp  nail ;  nails,  small,  eompressed,  slightly  hooked  and  sharp. 
The  toes  have  five  tubercles:  the  second  toe  irom  tl  thumb  is  longest, 
the  thirci  a  little  shorter,  the  first  still  shorter,  and  the  outer  one  shortest. 

The  hind-feet  are  a  little  longer  than  tli  fore-feet;  the  tliird  and  fourth 
toes  from  the  inner  side  are  nearly  of  equal  length,  the  second  toe  is  a 
little  shorter,  the  fifth  still  shorter,  and  the  first  is  shortest.  The  soles  of 
the  hind-feet  have  five  distinct  tubercles  ;  all  the  feet  are  clothed  with 
short,  adpressed  hairs.  The  tail  is  short,  scaly,  cylindrical,  slightly 
clothed  with  rigid  hair  extending  beyond  the  vertebrte. 

COLOUR. 

Teeth,  dark  orange ;  fur,  from  the  roots  to  near  the  tips,  on  every  part 
of  the  body,  da'k  plumbeous.  The  colour  differs  a  shade  or  two  between 
wint(!r  and  summer.  It  may  be  characterized  as  brownish-gray  above, 
a  little  darker  on  the  back.  The  lips,  chin,  throat,  and  abdomen,  are 
light  bluish-gray.  Feet,  dark-brown;  tail,  brown  above,  and  a  shade 
ligliter  beneath ;  eyes,  black ;  whiskers,  white  and  black. 


DIMENSIONS. 


Length  of  head  and  body 
"       "  tail       - 

Another  specimen. 

Length  of  head  and  body 
"       "  tail  (vertebra;)      - 
**       "    "    including  fur 


.5 

inches 

11 

do. 

5i 

do. 

H 

do. 

11 

do. 

UADITS. 


\\c  have  had  opportunities  in  New- York,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  New- 
England  States,  of  learning  some  of  the  habits  of  this  species.  It  is,  in 
fact,  the  common  Meadow-Mouse  of  the  Northern  and  Eastern  States. 

Wherever  there  is  a  meadow  in  any  of  these  States,  you  may  find 
small  tortuous  paths  cut  through  the  grass,  appearing  as  if  they  had  been 
partially  dug  into  the  earth,  leading  to  the  roots  of  a  stump,  or  the 
borders  of  some  bank  or  ditch.  These  are  the  work  of  this  linle  animal. 
Should  you  dig  around  the  roots,  or  upturn  the  stump,  you  may  find  a 
family  of  from  five  to  ten  of  this  species,  and  will  see  them  scampering 


WILSON'S  MEADOVV-MOUSE. 

off  in   all  directions;  an<l   although  thev  do  nof  r„n  r    .   .u       . 

many  hi.lin-  „|,ic.-s   tliaf  ,n.l .  •  ^'''*'  ^^''^   ^''^«   so 

I'kf'ly  to  rsca,,,.  v„o      'PI,   •         ..         T  "^        '      "^°"''  ''"''"■'^.  th..y  arc 

oruL  *,.."„:;;:„;;;;::-::::  H::rr'r"  ""f  " 

d«Hon.     ItisaLsolondoi-  hulhs  -...ic     i  '"  ^''"«'"-">   »n  good  con- 

'-■r"-.) »- ....  (r";::";;;;:::^;:;;:;r''''--*«. '''""'" 

VVc    doubt  whether  this  active   liffl, :     i 

■t  is  sol,!,,,,,  „,.|,  .,„  l,isl,  .,„,„,„,      s,ill  .  >loi.mlutor,  a, 

p.*  .c  ,„„ ,:,;,  ::;■;,  ::.:,*™  :,;;"■'  w:;.  '"-'■  r-  -"'-^ " 

.•"...,.  .,.|y  ,l„,,roy,.J  .luri,,,  „  «ve,e  wi„,„  by  „u,  MoaJoJltf   ,t  Ti: 
iMik    .»v,„g  lK.e„  B„„wed  from  ,h.  w„„d  for  „vc,al  iachc,  f2  Z 

ln.y,»,mtu»ll„.rollo„.i„Kol,»nrvali,„„o„.l,is»,,oci,.,-_         ™'"°"'.  "' 

"Two  „r  tlim,  wi„tas  ago  »vo,al   tl.ousand  y„u„„  fr„i,  ,„„  „„, 
J.-»lroycd    ,„  two    adjoinl,,,-    „„„crie,   „oar   our   oilv  ■  Z    I    ^ 

r:;-'",;"T "'™  "^-■» » -■'™'. «» r^a  <^^  L;: 

■  ....hes,  tlie   lowest   part  of  the  denuded  surface    bein<.  nhnn.  .  u 

Krouod    had    l,,...„    ,„,„„  vory    hard    all  wiaror,    owi„„   .oMT  J.j 
.|unn,  y  ,„  s™,w  ,l,„.  had  fallo,,.     ,  „„p„o,„,  „.„,  „^^  ,;,,,  ,„_";' 
bs.,  „„  ,h,,  ro„«  of  ,r^»,,  had  been  c.  olf  fr„„,  i,  or.li„a  y  W 
y  te  ,.o„y  hardness  ol  ,he  Rrouod.  and  had  attacked  the  ,rce.  fr„,„ 
.ho  „p   „     ,1,0   snow.     I    looked  „„,„„.,  f,„  ,b„  .j  „„j  J^°"^ 

nnmh,.r  ol  ,1„.  present  speeies.  omI  no  other.     I  strongly  ,„pe„,  ,  ™  ,h 

farmer  not  a  little.  -^ 

"  A  few  yetirs  trgo  a  farmer  gave  mo  permission  t„  „pse,;  some  stacks 
'f  corn  „„  a  p,eee  of  low :  I  „„„„  „„  abun.lance  of  this  spooler-; 


•'*'( 


Hit 


'iv 


nik 


311 


WILSON'S  ME\DOW.MOUSE. 


shallow  holes  under  them,  and  discov«'red  some  distance  up  between  the 
stalks,  ihe  remains  of  cobs  and  kernels,  showing  that  they  had  been 
doing  no  friendly  work  for  the  I'armer." 

We  suspect,  however,  that  the  mischief  occasioned  to  the  nursery  by 
this  species  is  iulinitely  greater  than  that  arising  from  any  depredations 
it  commits  on  wheat  or  corn-lields. 

The  nests  of  this  arvicola  are  always  near  the  surface ;  sometimes 
two  or  three  are  found  under  the  siime  stump.  We  have  frequently 
during  summer  observed  them  on  the  surface  in  the  meadows,  where 
they  were  concealed  by  the  overshadowing  grasses.  They  are  com- 
posed of  about  a  double  handful  of  leaves  of  soft  grasses,  and  are  of  an 
oval  shape,  with  an  entrance  on  the  side. 

Wilson's  Meadow-Mouse  swims  and  dives  well.  During  a  freshet 
which  covered  some  neighbouring  meadows,  we  observed  several  ol 
them  on  floating  bunches  of  grass,  sticks,  and  marsh  weeds,  sitting  in 
an  upright  posture  as  if  enjoying  the  sunshine,  and  we  saw  them  leav- 
ing these  temporary  resting  places  and  swimming  to  the  neighbouring 
high  grounds  with  great  facility ;  a  stick  thrown  at  them  on  such  occa- 
sions will  cause  them  to  dive  like  a  musk-rat. 

This  species  does  not,  in  any  part  of  the  United  States,  visit  dwellings 
or  outhouses,  allhough  Richardson  states  that  it  possesses  this  habit  in 
Canada.  We  have  scarcely  ever  met  with  it  on  high  gro'^i.ds,  and  it 
seems  lo  avoid  thick  woods. 

It  produces  young  three  or  four  times  during  the  summer,  from  two  to 
five  at  a  birth.  As  is  the  case  with  the  Florida  rat  and  the  white-footed 
mouse,  the  young  of  this  species  adhere  to  the  teats,  and  are  in  this  way 
occasionally  dragged  along  by  the  mother.  We  would,  however,  h(!re 
remark,  that  this  habit,  which  is  seen  in  the  young  of  several  animals, 
is  by  no  means  constant.  It  is  only  when  the  female  is  suddenly 
surprised  and  driven  iioni  her  nest  whilst  suckling  her  young,  that 
they  are  carried  olF  in  this  manner.  The  young  of  this  species  that  wc 
had  in  confinement,  after  satisfying  themselves,  relinquished  their  hold, 
and  permitted  the  mother  to  run  about  without  this  incumbrance. 

This  species  is  easily  caught  in  wire-traps  baited  with  a  piece  of 
apple,  or  even  meat;  we  have  occasionally  found  two  in  a  trap  at  the 
same  time.  When  they  have  become  accustomed  to  the  confinement  of 
a  cagt!  they  are  somewhat  familiar,  feed  on  grass  and  seeds  of  diirerent 
kinds,  and  often  come  to  the  bars  of  the  cage  to  receive  their  food. 

They  frequently  sit  erect  in  the  manner  of  marmots  or  squirrels,  and 
^vhile  in  this  position  clean  their  faces  v.  .ih  their  paws,  continuing  thus 
engaged  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour  at  a  time.      Tiiey  drank  a  good  deal 


WILSON'S  MEAIKJW-MOUSE. 
oi  water,  and  were  no(!turnal  in  th«ip  Jwj.u.      r»    • 


3f 


OEOORAPUICAL    DISTRIBUTION. 

Wc  havn  found  tfus  species  in  all  fhn  Now-Enrland   Sf.f.«       .         ■ 
^  very  eonnnon.     It  is  abun:,ant  in  a.,  the  meado^^^^^^'^^^^^^^^  " 

pnia.      vve  have  founa    t    n  Maryland  nn,l  n  i„  ,  "'■■laei- 

Pamunkey  [liver    i„  Hinovnr  .  '".  P'^°'^"'-«d  them  on  the 

ij   iiivt^i,    in  nanover  countv    in  tU-^t  '<t.^t„       u        •    . 

abundant.     We  have  traced  if  ««  f  u  '   ''''''"'''  '*  '^  ^^'^^ 

North  Carolina,  Z  ^S  1:  h  wt^S:;-^^"  '^"'T^  '' 
Canada.  F-.s.-.a  obtained  it  from  Flu.l.t  C  nd  R ''"  ""'  ^""^'' 
orU  as  very  aonndant  iVom  Canada  to  0...  B^^:.;:^:  ::r:::  ^'^'^"^^ 

To  the  westu  exist,  alon,  the  banl<s  of  the  Ohio,  but  mvve  e'un.bl 
to  find  ,t  m  any  part  of  ^he  region  lying  between  the  Z 
Hocliy  Mountains.  y"fe '>etwten  the  Mississipp,  and  the 


GENERAL    REMARKS. 

in  tl.„  „^-  I  .    ?  VI.,  piate  oO,  fig.  3;  descript  on  given    n    -.o 

m  the  article  on  the  barn-own  but  then  r.r..,nof     i        •    .    '  ^'^^"'  P-  •^''. 
which  is  „r.,li,,,blc  ,„  him  a    a  nUt^,  '•''''"  '"■  ''  '''  °"'' 

other  specie,  ,ha„  ,hi,     T,  T,  L""'""'""'  ""»"'"  P"""''/  "Pply  K.  any 

othcr  .PC     .  of  ,w,,e„„,  „,,:i„^.  ,,  J^J^;'''  "^  ^o  only  two 

.neronhi^prrrh";::  c™:::r  °^  '-r^-  *"  -"■"-  -- 

Go™„,  (Nat.  His,.,v„l.  ii„p.  ,8)  ^irir     Th  "•  '°  "'''''='' 

ral  rc,cm,„a„cc,  b„,  .he  J^..,' a     X  „        ^'Z:  ''""^  ^™«- 
h..  lo,„»a,.  „a„.„w„  ea..    p„,„,ai,„  :y„:'°^l:^^Z't 


I         ! 


,1  '■ 


i     -iJ 


I    [ 


346 


WILSON'S  MEADOW-MOUSE. 


shorter,  and  tho  body  is  more  ferruginous  on  the  npper  surface  than  ii 
our  species. 

In  the  last  work  published  on  American  quadrupeds,  the  writer  en- 
deavours to  show  that  this  species,  (which  he  has  named  A.  hirsutus,) 
difl'ers  from  A.  Pennsylvanica.  The  foUu^ving  remarks  are  made  at  p. 
87  : — "  Upon  the  suggestion  that  it  might  possibly  be  the  Pennsyhanicus 
of  Ord  and  Harlan,  it  was  shown  to  both  those  gentlemen,  who  pro- 
nounced it  to  be  totally  distinct."  To  this  we  would  observe,  without 
the  slightest  design  of  undervaluing  the  scientific  attainments  of  the 
respectable  naturalists  here  referred  to,  that  it  was  taxing  their  memo- 
ries rather  too  much,  to  expect  them,  after  the  lapse  of  fifteen  or  twenty 
years,  during  which  time  their  minds  had  been  directed  to  other  pur- 
suits, to  be  as  well  qualified  to  decide  on  a  species  as  they  were  when 
they  first  described  it,  (with  ail  the  specimens  before  them,)  and  when 
the  whole  subject  was  fresh  in  their  minds.  In  regard  to  Dr.  Harlan, 
he  candidly  wrote  in  answer  to  our  inquiries  respecting  this  and  several 
other  species,  that  having  been  long  engaged  in  other  investigations, 
and  never  having  preserved  specimens,  he  could  not  rely  on  his  present 
JM(lii[ment  with  any  degree  of  accuracy.  His  description,  moreover,  being 
I'ontained  in  two  and  a  half  lines,  cannot  be  depended  on,  and  is  equally 
applicable  to  a  considerable  number  of  species.  In  regard  to  referring 
subjects,  requiring  such  minute  investigatii  i,  to  the  memory,  when  the 
period  at  which  the  specimens  were  examined  has  long  passed,  we  have 
in  mind  the  reply  of  .Johnson,  the  great  philologist,  to  an  inquiry  for  infor- 
mation in  regard  to  the  derivation  of  a  word,  and  of  Newton,  when  asked 
for  a  solution  of  some  knotty  point  in  the  higher  branches  of  science  : 
the  former  referred  tne  inquirer  to  his  "Dictionary," — the  latter,  to  his 
"  Principia."  The  description  of  Mr.  Ord  is  full  and  accurate,  and  by 
this  we  are  quite  willing  to  abide.  We,  moreover,  are  perfectly  satis- 
fied, that  when  that  gentleman  has  an  opportunity  of  comparing  speci- 
mens of  the  several  species  found  in  the  vicinity  of  Pliiladelphia  with 
his  own  description,  he  will  refer  the  species  described  and  figured  aa 
A.  hirsutus  to  his  A.  Pennsylvanica. 

The  arvicola  Albo-riifcscens  of  Emmons  is  evidently  a  variety  of  this 
species.  We  obtained  a  specimen  from  a  nest  in  the  northern  part  of 
New- York,  which  answered  in  every  particular  to  his  description.  From 
the  same  nest  two  others  were  taken,  with  white  rings  round  their 
necks,  and  three  marked  like  the  common  Arvicola  Pennsylvanica, 
differing  in  no  respect  from  ylrr/r  la  hirsutus. 


347 


GENUS  CASTOR._LiNN. 


DENTAI,    FORMULA. 


Incisive  - ;     Canine  — ; 


0-0' 


Mol, 


ar- 


-  20. 


Incisors  very  strong.     I„  the  upper  jaw  their  anterior  .surface  is  fla, 
a  d   he.  postenor  surface  angular.     The  molars  differ  slightly  from  eac 
other  m  size    and  have  one  internal  and  three  external  grooves      In  the 
ower  jaw  the  incisors   present   the   same   appearance  as  those  of 
upper;  but  are  smaller.     In  the  molars  there  are  three  groov      ol   h 
inner  side,  with  one  on  the  external  ^ 

Eyes,  small;  ears  short  and  round;  five  toes  on  each  foot.     On  the  fore- 

root  of  the  tai,  in  whieh  L  unctlt '  J^L^^r^d!  """  "^^^  ^^^ 
Jhere  is  but  one   well  established   species  known  to  belong  to  this 

The  generic  name  is  derived  from  the  Latin  word  Castor,  a  beaver. 


CASTOR    FIBER.-LiNN. 

(VAR.  AMERICANUS.) 

American  Beaver. 

PLATE  XLVI. 

C.  Arct.  menace   major,   supra  badius,    infra  dilutior- 
ovata,  squamosa.  ' 


Cauda  plana, 


CHARACTERS. 


.!^Tsl  17  ''"^'^''"":^-'"'^'  (^-'"-^'^  ^ono.,.)  of  a  reddish-broron  colour 
mth  a  short  downy  grayish  fur  Uneath ;  tail,  flat,  scaly,  and  oval.  ' 


348 


AMERICAN  BRAVER. 


SYNONYMEB. 


Castor  Fiber,  Linn.,  12th  ed.,  p.  78. 
Castor,  Sagiird  Thoodiit,  Canadii,  p.  707. 
Bkavkr,  Castoii,  Pennant^  Arc.  Zool.,  vol.  i.,  p.  98. 
Castor  Ohuinaire,  Desm.,  Mamm. 
Castor  Amkkicanus,  F.  Cuvier. 
Castor  Fiber,  Lewis  and  Clarke's  Expedition,  vol.  i. 
Thk  Bkavkr,  Hearne's  Journal,  vol.  viii.,  p.  245. 
Beavkr,  Cartwi-ight's  Journal,  vol.  i.,  p.  02. 

"         Catesby,  App.,  p.  29. 
Castor  Fibkr,  Harlan,  Fauna,  p.  122. 

"  "       Godman,  vol.  ii.,  p.  21. 

"  "       Americanus,  Richardson,  F.  B.  A.,  p.  105. 

"  "       Emmons,  Mass.  Reports,  p.  61. 

"       Dckay,  pi.  1,  p.  72. 


DESCRIPTION. 

The  shape  of  the  body  bears  a  considerable  resemblance  to  that  of  tho 
musk-rat;  it  is,  however,  much  larger,  and  the  head  is  proportionally 
thicker  and  broader.  It  is  thick  and  clumsy,  gradually  enlarging  irom 
the  head  to  the  hips,  and  then  is  somewhat  abruptly  rounded  off  to  the 
root  of  the  tail. 

Nose,  obtuse  and  divided ;  eyes,  small ;  ears,  short,  rounded,  well 
clothed  with  fur,  and  partially  concealed  by  the  longer  surrounding 
hairs,  moustaches,  not  numerous,  but  very  rigid  like  hogs'  bristles, 
reaching  to  the  ears ;  neck,  rather  short.  The  fur  is  of  two  kinds.' 
The  upper  and  longer  hair  is  coarse,  smooth,  and  glossy ;  the  under  coat 
is  dense,  soft  and  silky.  Fore-feet,  short  and  rather  slender ;  toes,  well 
separat.'(l  and  very  flexible.  The  fore-feet  are  used  like  hands  to  convey 
food  to  the  mouth.  The  fore-claws  are  strong,  compressed,  and  chan- 
nelled beneath.  Th«  middle  toe  is  the  longest,  those  on  each  side  a 
little  .shorter,  and  the  outer  and  inner  ones  shortest. 

The  hind-feet  bear  some  resemblance  to  those  of  the  goose.  They  are 
webbed  beyond  the  roots  of  the  nails,  and  have  hard  and  callous  soles. 
In  most  of  the  .specimens  we  have  seen,  there  is  a  double  nail  on  the 
second  inner  toe.  The  palms  and  soles  are  naked.  When  walking,  t,he 
whole  heel  touches  the  ground.  The  Beaver  is  accustomed  to  rest  ilsolf 
on  its  hind-feet  and  tail ;  and  when  in  this  sitting  position  contracts  its 
fore-elaws  in  the  manner  of  tl.e  left  hand  figure  n^presented  in  the  plate. 
The  upper  surface  of  all  the  feet,  with  the  exception  of  the  nails,  which 
are  naked,  is  thickly  covered  with  short  adpressed  hairs. 


AMERICAN  BEAVER. 


349 


seal's' '%!!  7'  '?!'  '"?''^'  *-.-e-shapecl  an.l  covered  with  angular 
scales      The  root  of  the  tail  is  for  an  inch  covered  with  fme  fur      The 


COLOUR. 

Incisors^on  their  outer  surface,  orange ;  moustaches,  black  ;  eyes  light 
rovvn      The  soft  under  down  is  light  grayish-brown      The  upp    'fur 
he  back  .s  o,  a  shining  ehesnut  colour;  on  the  under  surface,  a.  d  a^ou 
he  mouth  and  throat,  a  shade  lighter.     Nails,  brown  ;  webs  between  to 

ZeZT\    ^^^T''-'*^"^"-     ^«  have  seen   an   occasional  varl^ 
Some  are  black;  and  we  examined  several  .kins  that  were  nearly  white. 

DIMENSIONS. 

Male  represented  in  the  plate.-Rather  a  small  specimen 
V  rom  nose  to  root  of  tail. 
Tail,     .....__" 

.    From  heel  to  end  of  middle  claw. 
Greatest  breadth  of  tail, 
Thickness  of  tail,  .         .         .        _ 

Weight,  Hi  lbs. 


S3  inches 
10     do. 

.">}  do. 

3J  do. 
-    5  do. 


HABITS. 

The  sagacity  and  instinct  of  the  Beaver  havn  fn«,v,  f 

.»,,  .he ..*,,„. ,„■  „,„„.„,„„  .„, ^x.  tI  r,  "^.Tr;:;: 

»„,„„.„„  have  r,.p.„,™t„d  it  as  a  raMonal,  i„,elM,.c„,   amlllt  h 
roqniring  but,  the  (acuity  of  speech  t„  rii,e  i,  ,  ' .  "^' 

some  respect,  with  o„/„w„' pee  e  T  :  i T  h"  ""  """'''''  '" 
every  m„„,  whatever  tuay  he  his  pride  in  ,"„hl„,  I  """'P'"""™  »( 
a  greater  or  less  „e,ree  t.f  superstiU™  ^^^,1  ''T^'  \" 

is  at  best  but  slow  to  be  enlightened  -u,,!  ,1  ,  """'"'"f  ^he  world 
us  by  the  tales  of  the  nursery  J  e  "  „'  t  77  i  T"  "'"""'' 
l".o  the  uerthern  parts  of  Swede  ,    K^"  ^  N  ."t  "■■■"""'''' 

o...,.  M.,.„., ,.:  „..,„„  ,<.;::■  j::  tLixTwh":  e ::!;;:: 

"m:  ,n,,..-,„ary  „„,i„„s  were  ree„r,led  l,y  ,h,.  eredulen;  GessI      ,»  w™ 
marvellous  accounts  of    h„  habits  of  the   Beavers   in  Nor  h' I  P 

^irol-U  "  ""•  "■""^>''™—     Thescla.,,  exeited  theenthu 

™sm  o(  Uereos,  whose  ro.uantie  stories  have  so  fastened  thcnselves  on 


-I- 


350 


AMERICAN  BEAVER. 


the  mind  of  childhood,  .and  liave  hocn  so  gcnerallj'^  made  a  part  of  our 
education,  that  wc  now  are  almost  led  to  regret  that  three-fourths  of  the 
old  accounts  of  this  extraordinary  animal  are  fabulous  ;  and  that  with 
the  exception  of  its  very  peculiar  mode  of  constructing  its  domicile,  the 
Beaver  is,  in  point  of  intelligence  and  cunning,  greatly  exceeded  by  the 
fox,  and  is  but  a  few  grades  higher  in  the  scale  of  sagacity  than  the 
common  musk-rat. 

The  following  account  vvras  noted  down  by  us  as  related  by  a  trapper 
named  Prevost,  who  had  been  in  the  service  of  the  American  Fur  Com- 
pany for  upwards  of  twenty  years,  in  the  region  adjoining  the  spurs  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  who  was  the  "  Patroon"  that  conveyed  us 
down  the  Missouri  river  in  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1843.  As  it  con- 
firms the  statements  of  Hearne,  Richardson,  and  other  close  observers  of 
the  habits  of  the  Beaver,  we  trust  that  although  it  may  present  little  that 
is  novel,  it  Avill  from  its  truth  be  acceptable  and  interesting  to  our 
readers.     Mr.  Prevost  states  in  substance  as  follows. 

Beavers  prefer  small  clear-water  rivers,  and  creeks,  and  likewise  resort 
to  large  springs.  They,  however,  at  times,  frequent  great  rivers  and 
lakes.  The  trappers  believe  that  they  can  have  notice  of  the  approach 
of  winter  weather,  and  of  its  probable  severity,  by  observing  the  prepa- 
rations made  by  the  Beavers  to  meet  its  rigours  ;  as  these  animals  always 
cut  their  wood  in  good  season,  and  if  this  be  done  early,  winter  is  at 
hand. 

The  Beaver  dams,  where  the  animal  is  at  all  abundant,  are  built  across 
the  streams  to  their  very  head  waters.  Usually  these  dams  are  formed  of 
mud,  mosses,  small  stones,  and  branches  of  trees  cut  about  three  feet  in 
length  and  from  seven  to  twelve  inches  round.  The  bark  of  the  trees  in 
all  cases  being  taken  ofT  for  winter  provender,  before  the  sticks  are  car- 
ried away  to  make  up  the  dam.  The  largest  tree  cut  by  the  Beaver, 
seen  by  Prevost,  measured  (Mgliteen  inches  in  diameter ;  but  so  large  a 
trunk  is  very  rarely  cut  down  by  this  animal.  In  the  instance  just  men- 
tioned, the  branches  only  were  used,  the  trUnk  not  having  been  appro- 
priated to  the  repairs  of  the  dam  or  aught  else  by  the  Beavers. 

In  constructing  the  dams,  the  sticks,  mud  and  moss  are  matted  and 
interlaced  together  in  the  firmest  and  most  compact  manner  ;  so  much  so 
tliat  even  men  cannot  destroy  them  without  :i  great  deal  of  labour.  The 
mud  and  moss  at  the  bottom  are  rooted  up  with  the  animal's  snout,  some- 
what in  the  manner  hogs  work  in  the  earth,  and  clay  and  grasses  are 
slulFed  and  plastered  in  between  the  sticks,  roots,  and  braiiehes,  in  so 
workmanlike  a  way  as  to  render  the  structure  quite  water-tight.  The 
lams  aro  sometimes  seven  or  eight  feet  high,  and  are  from  fen  to  twelve 


AMERICAN   BEAVER. 


351 


mi 


£*  ill 

e^:"r  :"r  z;ri:r ':ir  t  ^"^  ^-'^"^^  --- 

-onally  as  .nuch  as  three  hun.  recT  v.  7     u  '"^-     '^'^^^  ^--^  — 

yond  the  he.l  of  the   st  e.rn  i,  "^  ,       '"  ''"="'^'  ""^  "^'^  -'«»'!  '>«- 

ti'nber  near  the  ^^^^l^lZt'  ^"™'  ^°  ^  ^  ---flow  al,  the 
winte.,   heap  tc^ether  T;.  T  ''"■'  '"'  ^'"^""  ^"''  ^""^  duri„g 

under  the  su'fae:      Th  "w^^  thT'""'  "''  ^"  ^'"^'"  ^"  ^^^  «»-'• 

it  away;  although  th^r  ^i:  „  '^  r;^^?;  ^"'•~-  -- 

current  does  not  pass  over  it      Thrr     ,  '"'*'  '''  P"'^'"°»  ^hat  the 

in  front  of  the  ioclges  and  vher  t  '  "!  '^"'^^  "'  "«"^  -«  P'^-d 
to  them,  takes  a  p  el  f  Jo!  \  !  T""'^'  ^^'^  to  feed  he  proceeds 
near  the  pru,cipal7nt  al  ulin"  T'^  u  ''^  ""'^  "'  ^'^'^  •^'"'^"  ^oles 
the  surface  of  the  ground  I  eH  '^"^  ^'^  "''"'  ^"'^"""'^  ^^-'^th 
the  wood  is  after  JdHL  ^t^t  ^  '^.^':'"^^?^  '«^--' -^ 

small  galleries  are  more  or  les...      T  '^'''""'"^  '^'  ''''^'"-     These 

animals  in  the  h,d.r     T L    1;    "I  7    ""'"■'""^'  '"  *^«  --''-of 

-en  ^eeindian.;,\j:,;:-r!:,:rv^!.r'--  ^^- 

a  great  oven.     They  are  placed  near  th       d  'e  of    h       ''  '''^"""'"" 
actually  built  on  or  in  the  ground.     In  ittt     I     ,/  ""'"'"''  "'^'^""^''^ 

the  .nu.l   to  secure  a  deptl  of  wat        h  t    ''^"""r  "^'"^^^'^   ''''''>' 
their  wood  ,Iecp   enough  to  pr  vent      s  b  ""'^"'^   ''"^""  ^"  ^''"'^ 

tl'e  dam  is  irozon  over  ^nd  loto  11  7^  ""^"'^'^  '"  ^^"^  '«^'  -'"^^ 
their  lodges,  .o  thaUhe      na;;^^^^  T'''  "'^'^  '^'^'■'^^^  ^-- 

The  top  of  the  lodge  is  form  Jbvnh  T  7^  "''*"''  ''  ''  '— -X' 

-.d,  grasses,  mo.^  ^c  ToJ  ther  rf  ^""'"''  ""'  ^''^'^'^  "'^''^■^'  ^^th 
theoutsi.le  n;m  t;^:'trt:  ;:^  :;::;f  ^^hr.  measures  on 
feet  high,  the  size  depending  on  H.  '^  '  ''"''  '' ^'^  °'"  ^'"^t 

ward  coating  is  entirely  "mud  or  /,""  "'  "'  '"'^^'^'''tauts.  The  out- 
ed  with  a  trowel      A    Be.v        ,  '  ""'  """•'"^'  «''"  ^^  '^  P'-'er- 

P.-n  we  believe  t.  ; 7  I'en  TortlT'^"  T"  ^"  '''  '^■^^-^  - 
this  hard-nnish  ,o  their  l.ouseT  T  Js  n  "  '"  "'"  """  ''^^'^'  ^''  ^'- 
inswimming,  but  for  earryi  ^t,,;  ^^  i:^  '"^f  "^  ^^^^  ^-^^^t 
inj?  the  young  ones  which  su^ert'  •'  .  '"  '  ""^''''''^  ^y  ^^''^tch. 
•""•v,  using  only  tU  Ind       t  "    l^f ™'  '"  '"«"  '^^  ^'^^  -'''  °^  the 

making  a  noise  (h-^t  „nv  I,  ,  ^^'  ''''"'  '''  '""'^  ""  the  water. 

n^ng,  L  tail  ^  ^  ^  t  ^  rk  .rr'"'";'';"  ■  ''^""^^'  '^"^  ^"  -'■"- 

except  the  nose  and   pn  t  ^f       t      '.      '""      T'  "'"■"'^'  ^•"""•^■■^-' 
no^lnghke  the  speed  :.ftheo;:::;i:-;r^^ 


J  i 


3r»2 


AMERICAN  BEAVER. 


already  spoken  of,  through  which  they  go  ir.  and  out  and  bring  their  food. 
The  bods  ol'  these  singular  animals  are  separated  slightly  from  each 
other,  and  are  placed  around  the  wall,  or  circumference  of  the  interior  ol 
the  lodge  ;  they  are  foriuoii  merely  of  a  few  grasses,  or  the  tender  bark 
of  trees;  the  space  in  the  centre  of  the  lodge  being  left  unoccupied.  The 
Beavers  usually  go  to  the  dam  every  evening  to  see  if  repairs  are  needed, 
and  to  deposite  their  ordure  in  the  ^rz^iv'v  nef  >■  the  Jam,  or  ai  least  at  some 
distance  from  their  lodge. 

They  rarely  travel  by  land,  unit  Mr  dams  have  been  carried  away 
by  the  ice,  and  even  then  they  take  the  beds  of  tlie  rivers  or  streams  for 
their  roadway.  In  cutting  down  trees  they  are  not  always  so  fortunate 
as  to  have  them  fall  into  the  water,  or  even  towards  it,  as  the  trunks  of 
trees  cut  down  by  these  animals  are  observed  lying  in  various  positions ; 
although  as  most  trees  on  the  margin  of  a  stream  or  river  lean  somewhat 
towards  the  water,  or  have  their  largest  branches  extended  over  it,  many 
of  those  cut  down  by  the  Beavers  naturally  fall  in  that  direction. 

It  is  a  curious  fact,  says  our  trapper,  that  among  the  Beavers  there  are 
some  that  are  lazy  and  will  not  work  at  all,  either  to  assist  in  building 
lodges  or  (lams,  or  to  cut  down  wood  for  their  winter  stock.  The 
industrious  ones  beat  these  idle  fellows,  and  drive  thetii  away  ;  some- 
time" tting  oif  a  part  of  their  tail,  and  otherwise  injuring  them.  These 
"  Paresseux"  are  more  easily  caught  in  traps  than  the  others,  and  the  trap- 
per rarely  misses  one  of  them.  They  only  dig  a  hole  froiri  the  water  run- 
ning obliijuely  towards  the  surface  of  the  ground  twenty-five  or  thirty  feet, 
from  which  they  emerge  when  hungry,  to  obtain  food,  returning  to  the 
same  hole  with  the  wood  they  procure,  to  eat  the  bark. 

They  never  form  dams,  and  are  sometimes  to  the  number  of  five  or 
seven  together ;  all  are  males.  It  is  not  at  all  improbable,  that  these 
unfortunate  fellows  have,  as  is  the  case  with  the  males  of  many  species 
of  animals,  been  engaged  in  fighting  with  others  of  their  sex,  and 
after  having  been  conquered  and  driven  away  from  the  lodge,  have 
become  idlers  from  a  kind  of  necessity.  The  working  Beavers,  on  the 
contrary,  associate,  males,  females,  and  young  together. 

Beavers  are  caught  and  found  in  good  order  at  all  seasons  of  the  year 
in  the  Rocky  ^Mountains  ;  for  in  those  regions  the  atmosphere  is  never 
warm  enough  to  injure  the  fur  ;  in  the  low-lands,  however,  the  trappers 
rarely  becin  to  capture  tli(>m  before  the  first  of  September,  and  they  relin- 
quish the  pursuit  about  the  last  of  May.  This  is  understood  to  be  along 
the  Missouri,  and  the  (so  called)  Spanish  country. 

Cartwrioiit,  (vol.  i.,  p.  <)'2,)  found  a  Beaver  that  weighed  forty-five 
pounds,  and  we  were  assured  that  they  have  been  caught  weighing 


AMERICAN  BEAVEIl. 


353 


sixty-one  pounds  before  beins  cleaned      Tho  »»i 
that  are  eonsidored  fine  ea^ng/'e  V.  L  ^f  T^^^^^ 
the  tail,  and  the  liver      The  tail    «n  I       T  ^^^^^'  ^^^    ''"'"P. 

,  various  au.hor,  ^ZJ^TtZ  ''''''^"  °'  '^  '''''''''^■^^  ^^   'y 

^hHr  description.     ;:  h  s  Z^     r^^^^.T  ''''  "^  ^f  ^  «^-"ed 
oily,  and  cannot  be  partaken  of  unles   t  "'';™"'  ^"*  "  ^"*^^'- 

r^     •  "^    '"'^''   sciison    white     fpnHpi.     o„^    •  • 

During  winter,  when  the  ire  i«  fKs  i        j  tender,    and  jmcy. 

greenwood,  .he  i^i  re:;..:*;: :' "  '■"°':™™  '-^  ^'■°''  °' 

plaecl  ,vi,l,i„  afcw  inchcfrh;r,ilf  "'"*'' ''"I''  "'""I"' 

'!«  Beaver,  a,..ao,e,l  e  ,  e,.;;  ,1       ,f  h'T"  T"'  "="  "'""'''•  "'«' 

a  roo.  ta  orfer  .„  „b.ai„  i.  V^l  ZlZt  ""T-  '1  """"  """  "«' 
U  Ka.  had  «.e  .„  .hi„U  „f  .Ms  mX:  o  av  ^r^l  riT?'' 
Whe„  trapping  „„de,-  other  eireumstances  theTn  ,  ,  *=''""""■■ 
or  ,ix  htehes  of  the  shore   and  ahon.  ,1  ,      "^      "^    °°''  """""  «'''• 

of  .he  .a.er,  .cured  a^d":::!'::  ^    aTltW,:  tl  '"^  ^"'°"" 
™.  .hen  e«  o.  .he  r..  h,  whieh  .he,  are  he^ "f 'r^:  t!:i:  .re" 

A  singular  habit  ol'  the  Beaver  was  men.ioned  In  „    k    ,K 
P..VO..,  „f„bi„H  „e  do  no.  reeollee.  havT„T  efrlhea^  '«: .Sr 
when  .wo  Beaver  lodges  are  in  the  vieini.v  of  .,  T  ,u        u  " 

proceed  from  one  of  them  a,  n^.h,,  J         ^  °"'"'  ""=  ""'""'I' 

reum,  and  .hen  re.  r    .     .^  i  'fl  "  VhT  Be"  T' '  ^T'  "™'  """"• 

cairil'  :Tr''  '""'7  '"'•''"''  '""^"""^  '"  ^^^  ^''-*^«  "f  the  Beaver  is 
called  castoreu-n  :  by  .rappers,  bark-stone  :  with  ,his  the  traps  are  hai'-d 
4fl 


354 


AMERICAN  DKAVER. 


i    ? 


A  small  stick,  four  or  five  inches  lonj?,  is  chewed  at  one  end,  and  that 
part  dipped  in  the  castoreum,  which  is  generally  kept  in  a  small  horn. 
The  slick  is  then  placed  with  the  anointed  end  above  water,  and  the 
oth»!r  end  downwards.  The  Beaver  can  smell  the  castoreum  at  least 
one  hundred  yards,  makes  towards  it  at  once,  and  is  generally  caught. 

Where  Beavers  have  not  been  disturbed  or  hunted,  and  are  abun- 
dant, tliey  rise  nearly  half  out  of  water  at  the  first  smell  of  the  casto- 
reum, and  become  so  excite('  that  they  are  heard  to  cry  aloud,  and 
breathe  hard  to  catch  the  odour  as  it  floats  on  the  air.  A  good  trap- 
per used  to  catch  about  eighty  Beavers  in  the  autumn,  sixty  or  seventy 
in  the  spring,  and  upwards  of  three  hundred  in  the  summer,  in  the 
mountains  ;  taking  occasionally  as  many  as  five  hundred  in  one  year. 
Sixty  or  seventy  Beaver  skins  are  required  to  make  a  pack  weighing 
one  hundred  pounds;  which  when  sent  to  a  good  market,  is  worth, 
even  now,  from  three  to  four  hundred  dollars. 

The  Indians  occasionally  destroy  Beaver-dams  in  order  to  capaire  these 
animals,  and  have  good  dogs  to  aid  them  in  this  purpose.  The  Moun- 
tain Indians,  however,  are  not  trappers. 

Sometimes  the  Indians  of  the  Prairies  break  open  Beaver  lodges  in  the 
summer-time,  as,  during  winter,  they  are  usually  frozen  hard.  The  Bea- 
ver is  becoming  very  scarce  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  so  much  so,  that  if 
a  trapper  now  secures  one  hundred  in  the  winter  and  spring  hunt,  he  is 
considered  fortunate. 

Formerly,  when  the  fur  was  high  in  price,  and  the  animals  abundant, 
the  trading  companies  were  wont  to  send  as  many  as  thirty  or  forty  men, 
each  with  from  six  to  twelve  traps  and  two  good  horses :  when  arrived 
at  a  favourable  spot  to  begin  their  work,  these  men  erected  a  camp,  and 
each  one  sought  aione  for  his  game,  the  skins  of  which  he  brought  to 
camp,  where  a  certain  number  of  men  always  remained  to  stretch  and 
dry  them. 

The  trappers  subsist  principally  upon  the  animals  they  kill,  having  a 
rifle  and  a  pair  of  pistols  with'them.  After  a  successful  hunt,  rn  meet- 
ing each  other  at  the  camp,  they  have  a  "  frolic  "  as  they  term  it. 

Some  old  and  wary  Beavers  are  so  cunning,  that  on  finding  the  bait 
they  cover  it  over,  as  if  it  were  on  the  ground,  with  sticks,  &c.,  deposit 
their  own  castoreum  on  the  top,  and  manage  to  remove  the  trap.  This 
is  often  the  case  when  the  Beaver  has  been  hunted  previously.  In  places 
where  they  have  remained  undisturbed,  but  few  escape  the  experienced 
trapper.  The  trappers  are  not  very  unfroqucntly  killed  by  the  Indians, 
and  their  occupation  is  one  involving  toil  and  hazard.  They  rarely  gain 
a  competence  for  their  old  age,  to  say  nothing  of  a  fortune,  and  in  fact 


==1 


AMERICAN  BEAVER 


355 


and  he  lost  his  gun  and  rifle  in  coming  down  tirriver  n  1        T          "' 

and  was  obliged  to  make  for  the  shore   di!  a  ho-e  wl  .     '  '^"•"• 

ievv  iurs  he  had  left,  and  travel  several'  Idr  d  mH  "'".      ''""'*  ^'" 

berries  and  roots  for  his  fooH      H  ""  ^°°^  ^^^'^  ""'^ 

the  Fort.                                      •     "'  ^''^  ^"'^^  "^'^^d  when  he  reached 

The  Beaver  which  we  brought  from  Boston  to  New-York  was  fWl      ■ 

which  .,np„r„,„|  him  /V„m  .ha.  ,,„r.  of  .he  t,.d    "e  rlt    h       '""°        ! 
haJ  wan<l,.re,I  „l,„„.  u„,i|  h,.  Ml   i,„n  ,v.  °""''  "'"' 

"P  ou.i.,„  ,h.  „.„he„ .;!,;.,:' ' :,.-;;-::  zr^,  ■'-'  r""" 

having  no   other   chanr-o  nf  /         ,  ^     "^    entrapped,  and 

unluckily   fdlel     1  .  "'^'         "   '^"   ^''^    '"^«    ^^'^"^'^  '-  had 

ui.uck.lj     .Hen,    h.    gnawed  away   at  the    window-sill    and    the   sash 

on  wh.ch    h.s    teeth    took    such    eff-ect   that   on   an  exam'.tion  o    th 

premises  we  found  that  a  carpenter  and  several  dol-^uV  wirof         . 

p;ve.e„.,  a.„ .« he  .;:ir:h;rur;;;:Th?;r  L^ 

wall,,,l  „ho„.  ,„  „„  „x,nem„ly  awliwar,!  manner.     He  fell  ill  son",  alW 
-  ha.,  re,.,.i,.e„  him.   „n,l  when  ,<il,e,l.   „„s  examine     ,"  T ]^Z 

l::r """ '""-"  ''■" "- "- *"""• » "« »'  -  0^"^: 

I.  is  s.a.e,l  by  some  ami,,,,,  „„„  „,e  Beaver  feed,  on  |i»h.     We  ,loul,t 
■•elore  those  we  saw  ,„  e«p.,vity,    ami  al.hough    ihey    were  no.  verj 


3r)6 


AMERICAN   BE  A  VEIL 


choice  in  their  food,  nnd  devoured  any  kind  of  vegetable,  and  even  bread, 
they  in  every  case  sulfered  lish  to  remain  untouched  in  their  cages. 

The  food  of  this  species,  in  a  state  of  nature,  consists  of  the  bark  of 
several  kinds  of  trees  and  shrubs,  and  of  bulbous  and  other  roots.  It  is 
particularly  fond  of  Ihu  bark  of  the  birc-h,  {Ihiiila,)  the  cotton-wood, 
{Foptilus,)  and  of  several  species  of  willow,  {Sdlix ;)  it  I'eeds  also  with 
avidity  on  the  roots  of  some  aquatic  plants,  especially  on  those  of  the 
Nuphair  lutcum.  In  summer,  when  it  sometimes  wanders  to  a  distance 
from  the  water,  it  eats  berries,  leaves,  and  various  kinds  of  herbage. 

The  young  are  born  in  the  months  of  April  and  May  ;  those  produced 
in  the  latter  month  are  the  most  valuable,  as  they  grow  rapidly  and  be- 
come strong  and  large,  not  being  checked  in  their  growth,  which  is  often 
the  case  with  those  that  are  born  earlier  in  the  seaso' .  Some  females 
have  been  taken  in  July,  with  young,  but  such  an  event  is  of  rare  occur- 
rence. The  eyes  of  the  young  Beaver  are  open  at  birth.  The  dam  at 
times  brings  forth  as  many  as  seven  at  a  litter,  but  from  two  to  five  is 
the  more  usual  number.  The  yoi  ig  remain  with  the  mother  for  at  least 
a  year,  and  not  unfrequently  twc  years,  and  when  they  are  in  a  place  of 
security,  where  an  abundance  of  food  is  to  be  procured,  ten  or  twelve 
Beavers  dwell  together. 

About  a  month  after  their  birth,  the  young  first  follow  the  mother,  and 
accompany  her  in  the  water ;  they  continue  to  suckle  some  tirr  i  longer, 
although  if  caught  at  that  tender  age,  they  can  be  raised  without  any  dit- 
ficulty,  by  feeding  them  with  tender  branches  of  willows  and  other  trees. 
Many  Beavers  from  one  to  two  months  old  are  caught  in  tra|)s  set  for  old 
ones.  The  gravid  female  keeps  aloof  from  ihe  male  until  after  the 
young  have  begun  to  follow  her  about.  She  resides  in  a  separate  lodge 
till  the  month  of  August,  when  the  whole  family  once  more  dwell 
together. 

GEOGRAPHICAI-    DISTRIBUTION. 

According  to  Richaroson  the  Beaver  exists  on  the  banks  of  the  iNIao- 
kensie,  which  is  the  largest  river  that  discharges  itself  into  the  Polar 
Sea :  he  speaks  of  its  occurring  as  high  as  67J  )r  (58°  north  latitude,  and 
states  that  its  range  from  east  to  west  extends  from  one  side  of  the  con 
tinent  to  the  other.  It  is  found  in  Labrador,  iVewJjundland,  and  Canada, 
and  also  in  some  paiLs  of  Maine  and  Massachusetts.  Tl'.ere  can  be  no 
doubt  that  the  Beaver  formerly  existed  in  every  portion  of  the  United 
States.  Catesbv  noticed  it  as  found  in  Carolina,  and  the  local  names  of 
Beaver  Creek,  Beaver  Dam,  «&c.,  now  existing,  are  evidences  that  the 
animal  was  once   known  to  occupy  the  places  designated  by  these  com 


AMERICAN  nRAVER. 

liM  vWl  ,„  Fl„ri,l,i  i„  1778    nv,i,.h  „  -NM     '  >"■'"  ^If-     Uartram,,,, 
existing  i„G.„,..i,.  „„„  E,,;.  P    H    '  '  u     [   X:':,"'  "  "'  '"  "■"'  '-^ 

ral  B<.avi,r-l,iiuses  in  the  noi-lh-wralem  nart  of  lV„w  V    i        T 
though  „•.  di„  „„.  «e  the  a„™„K  „e  oCJ.tjZt  '  f' 

,pre«,n.  ex„t  sou.l,  of  cerlai,,  localilic,  i„  ,he  »,a,„  of  Mc«-.  Yo  k      Th 
|:.  an  error.     Only  .wo  year,  a.„  we  received  a  .bo.  of     e  ,h     ,„i  .^I 

«b»rve„  a  Beaver  .vi„„i„,  „„„,,  T  r^^^^ZrH/lT:! 
lu!;"  'j;;'^."";«f  MU,e,l,evine,  Georgia,  wi.ere  Beavrsae    .m 
ound.     Oar  IriemI,  Major  Looan,  residing  in   Dallas  conn.v    li  , 
mlor^ed  „,.ha.  .Key  exi.  „„  Ms  „la„,:,i„„.  Ld     a     "L.    hT; 

tmny  skms  annually,  from  persons  residing  in  his  neighbourhood        ' 

Of  t  Zemr  :r  r^r  r '-"^-^: -- 

near  „ende«„„,  Ken.ucky,    i^  CaTe  Ore  k       . TJir  ,t'  °"' 
curiosity,  .and   probably   none  have   been   ,  en   i       h«      ^,  -"u" 

zrr  b^r  "-^  •^"  "■.^  Bea:::LrjrZn:„: : 
on  .he  '^J::z:zziz:^z„  I^;:rr" 

.ains.  and  along  .heir  whole  range  on  ho.h  side       ^  1 1.'     L^""" 
far  as  .he  northern  boumbries  of  Mexieo  and  i.  i    „„  !  r       , 

Tropie  ovrer-r::';-—  thi!::  t::::;/::!;:.:::;: 

abundan.  .„  .he  alluvial  lands  of  Carolina  aud  Georgia.  ZtkXl 


a-dA\ieb 


I 


358 


AMERICAN  BEAVER 


where  its  (liuns  formerly  existed  jire  on  pure  running  streams,  and  not 
on  the  slusKisli  rivers  near  lh(!  seii-coa.sf. 


ih 


li 


GENKRAI.    RHMARKS. 

It  is  (louhted  by  some  authors  whether  the  Ameriean  Beaver  is  identi- 
cal witli  the  Heaver  whic^h  exists  in  the  north  of  Europe  ;  F.  Cuviek, 
KuiiL,  and  others,  deseril)ed  it  under  the  names  of  C.  Amvrkanus,  C. 
Canadensis,  »fce.  From  the  ampliihious  habits  of  this  aninial,  and  its 
northern  range  on  both  continents,  strong;  arguments  in  favour  of  tlie 
identity  of  the  American  and  European  species  might  be  maintained, 
even  without  ado|)ting  tlie  theory  of  the  former  connexion  of  the  two  ad- 
Jacent  continents.  We  carefully  compared  many  specimens  (American 
and  European)  in  tin;  museums  of  Europe,  and  did  not  perceive  any  dif- 
ferenoe  between  them,  except  that  the  American  specimens  were  a  very 
little  larger  than  the  European.  We  saw  a  living  Beaver  in  Denmark 
that  had  been  obtained  in  the  north  of  Sweden;  in  its  general  appear- 
ance and  actions  it  did  not  differ  from  those  we  have  seen  in  confine- 
ment in  America.  It  has  b'een  argued,  however,  that  the  European  ani- 
mal differs  in  its  habits  from  the  American,  and  that  along  the  banks  of 
the  Weser,  the  Rhone,  and  the  Danube,  the  Beavers  are  not  gregarious, 
and  that  they  burrow  in  the  banks  like  tiie  nmsk-rat.  But  change  of 
habit  may  be  the  result  of  altered  circumstances,  and  is  not  in  itself  suf- 
ficient to  constitute  a  species.  Our  wild  pigeon  {Columbn  migralor'ui) 
formerly  bred  in  counnunifies  in  the  Northern  States;  we  once  saw  one 
of  their  breeding  jjlaces  near  Lake  Champlain,  where  there  were  more 
than  a  hundred  nests  on  a  single  tree.  They  still  t)reed  in  that  portion 
of  the  country,  but  the  persecutions  of  man  have  cop  Mled  them  to 
ndoi)t  a  ditlVrent  habit,  and  two  nests  are  now  seldom  founu  on  a  tree. 

The  banks  of  the  European  rivers,  (on  whicii  the  Beaver  still  remains 
although  scarcely  more  than  a  straggler  can  be  found  along  them  now,) 
have  been  cultivated  to  the  water's  edge,  and  necessity,  not  choice,  has 
driven  the  remnant  of  the  Beaver  tribe  to  the  change  of  habit  we 
have  referred  to.  But  if  the  accounts  of  travellers  in  the  north  of  Europe 
are  to  be  relied  on,  the  habits  of  the  Beaver  are  in  the  uncultivated  por- 
tions of  that  country  precisely  similar  to  those  exhibited  by  the  animal  in 
Canada.  We  consider  the  account  of  these  animals  given  us  by  IIkarne, 
(p.  234,)  as  very  accurate.  11^  speaks  of  their  peculiarly  constructed 
huts,  their  living  in  connnunities,  and  their  general  habits.  In  the  ac- 
count of  Swedish  Lapland,  by  Professor  Lei:ms,  published  in  Danish 
and  Latin,  Copenhagen!!,  17()7,  we  have  the  following  notice  of  the 
Ei.ropean  species ,   (we  quote   from    the   English  translation  in   Pinker 


AMERICAN  BEAVER. 
roN'a  Voyages,  vol.  1.,  p.  419)     .....      „  .     .  ''^^*^ 

build  his  houso  near  the  banks  „f  law'        .  "  '"'*^'"''^'^«'y    '-J  to 

'••'"'  ''ir.-h  tree.,  with  vvhic  ,1.1  .  n  "''"  ''''''■  ^^' '"^'^'^  ^^''^  his 
'-  .int..s  ,he  woe:,  a  ;.;':'''';?''  'V'""^^^"'''-'  ■'  -t'.  '.is  teeth 
in  this  .nanne.  one  pie^'ii/lZ^L t:;:'  ^-^'''^  "^^  "''•^^^-'-  ' 
choose.      At  the   lake  or  river  where  ,  *'"'°''""''  '^^'"''^  '''^V 

;:irch  .0..  or  trunks.  eovT,  wXt  rh  ^i;;;;"  I';:-"^'  ^^'-^  "'^ 
"'■•■.un.  a  foundation,  they  complete  th  e  '  t  !  ^  7  """'  '""' 
n'uch  art  and   ingenuity  as  to  excite  th!  T  "''''"*-''   '^''"'  '^^ 

The  house  itself  is  of  a  round  and        1  ^'  V'"'*'""-''^"""  «'"  the  behohlers. 
fnrence  the  ordinary  hut  of  a  L  in  1  'T'  ^''"•'^"'""  '"  ^'«  «-— 

•-..covered  with  L^c^l  of    ^^  t;  i  ^^'^ '"?  "^  "'^"^  ^^  ^'^  "^ 
above,  near  the  edge  of  a  river  or  I  I  u"  '""^  '"""'"'  ^'"'  ^  ''"lo 

-d  flooring  on  wlTieh  the  dwer ^ t  i!'  "  '  ^'"^^"  ^'^^  '"""^'^'-" 
-ere  a  cell,  filled  with  water  wh"  ?,"'"'"''  ''''*"  ''  ^"""^'^  -  '^ 
put  up;  on  the  bark  of  thftl  bJ  '!  /''V''  "  "''  "'"  '"^^'^  ^^^  -« 
t-d.     If  there  are  more  Tm  I i  s    n  ?  '  "'"'  '"''^^'•''  ^'"'^  '"--'- 

another  resembling  the  <W  ^^  m^"  '  '^''^:  ^''^  ''^"^  ""-'•"'"• 
i-^properly  name  a  second  stor;  IriL  Lr^^^Hjt:?  'Z  ""7  "" 
'ng  consists  of  branches  vervrl„.,.l„  Ihcroofof  the  dirdl- 

.ne  «,„.     You  have  now   rZll  T        '  """  '■"<''""»  '""  '"  o'- 

-in,„,,  ,,u„.„h„;  desuHc  ;■„  ,::";::j  :?"  "/;■<■. --^  i.y » b™.„ 

-o  1««  in^cnnU,  .h„n  co.nmodilri.  ""'  "''"""''»  ""'  »•'"■ 

It  should   be  observed    thr,-^    i    ^ 

»*  in  .he  vicinity  „,■  .he  Berve^      d  no^fl.'':,''"'''''*'-'  -""  '=■ 
aervntion,.     This  account,  thoush  .ni.cdnn  wl?  "  P"'""'"  "b' 

and  tht  usual  vulgar  error,  r»L.I,         ,    '^  '™''  ««''"ra»Mcles 

..n.  the  habits  o,-  .1  n:z  1:^^^;:::;^^^'"''  '"°™ 

«™.l«r  to  those  of  that  anl,„al  on  the  norther:  clunenTo^AZ::'*'' 


yeo 


GENUS  MELES.— Brisson 


DENTAL    FORMULA. 


«  1—1  4—4 

Incisive  -  ;     Canine  — : ;    Moltir  -—  =  34. 

R  1 — 1  5 — a 


OR, 

«  I I  4—4 

Incisive  -  ;     Canine  —  ;  Molar  —  =  32. 

0  1—1  4—4 


^'[ 


i  ! 
i  t 


The  canine  teeth  in  this  genus  are  rather  large  and  strong.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  four  persistent  molars  on  each  side  in  the  upper  jaw,  there  ih 
an  additional  small  molar  which  is  deciduous,  dropping  out  when  the 
animal  is  quite  young. 

Nose,  somewhat  elongated,  ohtuse  at  the  jwint;  tongue,  smooth;  ears, 
short  and  round  ;  eyes,  small  body,  thick-set ;  legs,  short.  Mamma-,  Six, 
two  oil  the  lower  part  of  th(!  chest  and  lour  on  the  abdomen.  There  are 
transverse  glandular  follicles  between  the  anus  and  the  root  of  the  tail, 
which  discharge  a  i'ctid  matter. 

The  feet  are  live-toed,  and  are  armed  with  strong  nails.  The  fore-feet 
are  longer  than  ihe  hmd-feet. 

Three  species  jf  this  genus  have  been  described  ;  one  inhabits  Europe, 
■me  India,  and  one  America. 

The  generic  name  is  derived  from  the  Latin  word  Mclcs,  a  badger. 


MELES   LABRADORIA.— Sabine. 


American  Badokr. 
PLATE  XLVII.— Malk. 

Supra   fiisco-ferruginea ;  infra,  subalbida ;  capite,  fascia  longitudinalo 

ulb^i  ;  cruribus  et  pedibus  iiigris. 


AMERICAN  BADGER. 


CHARACTERS. 


•66' 


feet,  black.  ^        '       "  "'^''^'  *^"^«<^ '  'c^*  "nd 


ml 


SVNONYMES. 

CVrcajou,  Buffon,  torn,  vi.,  p.  117  pi   23 
CoMMox  lUuoEK,  Pennant's  Arctic  Zool.,  vol.  i..  p.  71 
Baook,,  Var.  R.  A.meuk-an,  Pe„„.  HLst.  Quad.,  vol.  ii"    p   ,6 
Uhhvh  Taxl-s,  Sclireber,  Suugeth.,  p.  520  ^' 

Laiikadoriis,  Gmel.,  vol.i.,  p.  102 
PuARow,  Ga.ss,  Journal,  p.  34. 

R..Anuuu,  Lewis  and  Clarke,  vol.  i.,  pp.  50,  137   213 
lAxus  LAnHADourcs,  Long's  Expedition,  vol.  i.,  p.  20 1. 
M.,...  LAnuAi-ciA,  Sabine,  Franklin's  First  Journey,  p   C49 
American  Badger,  Harlan,  F.,  p.  57.  ^'  ^       "• 

"        ^.    "        Godni.,  vol.i.,  p.  179. 
Blaireau  D  Ameriqoe,  F.  Cuvier,  Hist.  Nat.  des  Mamm 
Meles  Labradoria,  Richardson,  F.  B.  A.,  pi  2 

Wuterhouse,  Trans.  Zool.  Soc,  London,  vol.  ii.,  p.  ,.  p.  343. 

I)E.SCRII>TION. 

There  is  a  very  striking  difference  between  the  teeth  of  fhi« 

:::t  rv  "-"""  -"  --'^^^^'^'^:'r:::;;t: 

uousL,  11,  Ihe  Transactloi.a  of  the  Zool,  Socijlv  of  l,.„„l„„        ,   - 

I  •  ..  '"ol'iis  M.  the  pt)ster  or  fiilse  mol-n- oC  fK„ 

I'Hv.Tjjiw,  with  an  anterior  lurire  tubrrelp    ..„,l  /  ^ 

-  »^> ■•  .1. n,,.i..,.  an;r,he :  ;,:'  :,i:;:;r'"°''°'' °"' 

n»l,„ca„„„  ol»,.,,.,„„  ia  „„.  „™  „,.„,„  ,„„,,„^  „,.  »    I"       '  K„ '^ 
Ia.xidea,  furnislies  u.s   with  an   intovo^ti,.,,   i-  i    i  "PPer  j.iw  of 

Mil  il«  »ul,g..,„.ra."  '"*""  "'">  MusTHUA 

The  body  „,    Ki,  specie,  i,  .hick,  heavy,  «.,,   „e,y  bro,>e.  and  fl..hv 


■    if 


IB 

> 

j^l 

'  S' 

^62 


AMERICAN  BADGER. 


and  its  whole  structure  indicates  that  it  is  formed  more  for  strength  than 
speed. 

Head,  of  moderate  size,  and  conical ;  the  skull,  between  the  ears, 
broad,  givinji;  it  somewhat  the  api)earance  of  a  pug-faced  dog.  Tip  o. 
the  nose,  hairy  above ;  ears,  sliort,  and  ol'  an  oval  shape,  clothed  on  both 
surfaces  with  short  hairs ;  whiskers,  few,  not  reaching  beyond  the  eyes. 
The  fur  on  the  back  is  (in  winter)  three  inches  long,  covering  the  body 
very  densely  ;  on  the  under  surface  it  is  short,  and  so  thin  that  it  does  not 
conceal  the  colour  of  the  skin.  There  is,  immediately  oelow  the  tail,  a 
large  aperture  leading  into  a  kind  of  sac.  Although  there  seems  to  be 
no  true  glandular  apparatus,  this  cavity  is  covered  on  its  sides  by  an 
unctuous  matter;  there  is  a  second  and  smaller  underneath,  in  the  midst 
of  which  the  anus  opens,  and  on  each  side  of  tiie  anus  is  a  pore  from 
which  an  unctuous  matter  escapes,  which  is  of  a  yellow  colour  and  offen- 
sive smell.  Legs,  short;  feet,  robust,  pal  mated  to  the  outer  joint;  nails, 
long  and  strong,  slightly  arched,  and  channelled  underneath  toward 
their  extremities ;  palms,  naked.  The  heel  is  well  clothed  with  hair ; 
the  tail  is  short,  and  is  covered  with  long  bushy  hairs. 


OOLOUR. 

Hair  on  the  back,  at  the  roots  dark-gray,  then  light-yellow  for  two- 
thirds  of  its  length,  then  black,  and  broadly  tijjped  with  white;  giving 
it  in  winter  a  hoary-gray  appearance ;  but  in  summer  it  makes  a  near 
approach  to  yellowish-brown.  The  eyes  are  bright  piercing  black. 
Whiskers,  upper  lips,  nose,  forehead,  around  the  eyes,  and  to  the  back  of 
the  head,  dark  yellowish-brown.  There  is  a  white  stripe  running  from 
the  nose  over  the  forehead  and  along  tiie  middle  of  the  neck  to  the 
shoulder.  Upper  surface  of  ear,  dark  brown ;  inner  surface  and  outer 
edge  of  ear,  white ;  legs,  blackish-brown ;  nails,  pale  horn-colour ;  sides 
of  face,  white,  which  gradually  darkens  and  unites  with  the  brown  colour 
above ;  chin  and  throat,  dull  white  ;  the  remainder  of  the  under  surface 
is  yellowish-white ;  tail,  yellowish-brown. 

We  have  noticed  some  varieties  in  this  species.  In  one  of  the  speci- 
mens before  us  the  longitudin.il  white  line  does  not  reach  below  the 
eyes,  leaving  the  nose  and  forchciid  dark  yellowish-brown.  In  two  of 
them  the  under  surface  of  the  body  is  yellowish-white,  with  a  broad  and 
irregular  longitudinal  line  of  white  in  the  centre  ;  whilst  another  ;ui(l 
smaller  specimen  has  the  whole  of  the  under  surface  pure  white,  shaded 
on  the  sides  by  a  line  of  light  yellow. 


21  inches. 
4  do. 
H  do. 
3|  do. 
4  do. 
1*  do. 
IS  do. 
4f  do. 
10^  do. 
71  do. 


AMERICAN  BADGEK, 

DIMENSIONS. 

A  male  in  winfer  pelage. 

From  point  of  nose  to  root  of  tail, 
Tail,  (vertcbnc,)  .         .       '. 

to  end  of  hair,      .... 
Nose  to  root  of  ear,      .... 
Between  the  ears, 
Height  of        "  .         .         _ 

Breadth  of      "  .        .        _ 

Length  of  head,  .        .        .        _ 

Breadth  of  body,  .         .         .         ] 

Length  of  fore-leg  to  end  of  claw. 

Weight,  lOi  lbs. 

f«ii  f,r    /u      [  '        '        '        '        30  inches 

tail,  (vertebrae,)     . 

to  end  of  hair, 
Breadth  of  body. 
Heel  to  end  of  nail, 

Weight,  23  lbs. 
A  stuffed  specimen  in  our  collection. 
Length  of  head  and  body,      . 

tail,  (vertebras,)     -        .        . 

to  end  of  hair, 
heel  to  end  of  nail, 

HA  BITS. 


u 


5     do. 

7i  do. 

12     do. 

4     do. 


31  inches 

7i  do 
H  do. 


During  our  stay  at  Fort  Union,   on  the  Upper  Missonri  V         ■       . 
summer  of  18,3.  we  purchased  a  living  Bad 'er  from  !"''' ^'^ 
brought  it  from  some  distance  to  the  Fort  lb    si      t  hav 'T'  "'"  ''"' 
»>V  another  s„uaw  at  a  place  nearly  two  hu  d  H  and  J'    T  '^""'^ 
among  the  Crow  Indians.     It  was  first  placed   n  '''       ""  ^'^'^y' 

was  ..und  to  be  so  very  nUschie^u!:  H      ^  ^r::;^;:"  T""'   '" 
overy  arlicle  within  its  reach    trvinJ  L  H  T  "^  *°  P'^'^''''' 


m    m 


364 


AMERICAN  BADGER. 


cleanly  in  its  habits.  In  the  course  of  a  few  dajs  it  managed  to  dig 
a  hole  under  the  hearth  and  lire-place  nearly  hirge  and  deep  enough  to 
conceal  its  body,  and  we  \\tre  obliged  to  drag  it  out  by  main  force  when- 
ever we  wished  to  examine  it.  It  was  provoked  at  the  near  approach  of 
any  one,  and  growled  continuously  at  all  intruders.  It  was  not,  how- 
ever, very  vicious,  and  would  suffer  one  or  two  of  our  companions  fo 
handle  and  play  with  it  at  times. 

At  that  period  this  Badger  was  about  five  months  old,  and  was  nearly 
as  large  as  a  full  grown  wood-chuck  or  ground-hog,  {Arctomys  monax.) 
its  fur  was  of  the  usual  colour  of  summer  pelage,  and  it  was  quite  a 
pretty  looking  animal.  We  concluded  to  bring  it  to  New- York  alive,  if 
possible,  and  succeeded  in  doing  so  after  much  trouble,  it  having  nearly 
made  its  escape  more  than  once.  On  one  occasion  when  our  boat  was 
niiide  fast  to  the  shore  for  the  night,  and  we  were  about  to  make  our 
"en nip,"  the  Badger  gnawed  his  way  out  of  the  box  in  which  he  was 
confined,  and  began  to  range  over  the  batteau ;  we  rose  as  speedily  as 
possible,  and  striking  a  light,  commenced  a  chase  after  it  with  the  aid  of 
one  of  the  hands,  and  caught  it  by  casting  a  buffalo  robe  over  it.  The 
cage  next  day  was  wired,  and  bits  of  tin  put  in  places  where  the  wooden 
bars  had  been  gnawed  through,  so  that  the  animal  could  not  again  easily 
get  out  of  its  prison.  After  having  become  accustomed  to  the  box,  the 
Badger  became  quite  playful  and  took  exercise  by  rolling  himself  rapidly 
from  one  end  to  the  other,  and  then  liack  again  with  a  reversed  move- 
ment, continuing  this  amusement,  sometimes  lor  an  hour  or  two. 

On  arriving  at  our  residence  near  New-York,  we  had  a  large  box,  tinned 
on  the  inside,  let  into  the  ground  about  two  feet  and  a  half  and  filled  to 
the  same  depth  with  earth.  The  Badger  was  put  into  it,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  made  a  hole,  in  which  he  seemed  quite  at  home,  and  where  he 
passed  most  of  his  time  during  the  winter,  although  he  always  came  out 
to  take  his  food  and  water,  and  did  not  appear  at  ail  sluggish  or  inclined 
to  hibernate  even  when  the  weather  was  so  cold  as  to  make  it  necessary 
to  pour  hot  water  into  the  pan  that  was  placed  within  his  cage,  to  enable 
him  to  drink,  as  cold  water  would  hiive  frozen  immediately,  and  in  fiict 
the  pan  generally  had  a  stratum  of  ice  on  the  bottom  which  the  hot 
water  dissolved  when  poured  in  at  feeding-time. 

Our  Badger  was  fed  regularly,  and  soon  grew  very  fat ;  its  coat 
cluinired  completely,  became  woolly  and  of  a  buff- brown  colour,  and  the 
fur  by  the  month  of  February  had  become  indeed  the  most  effectual  pro- 
tection against  cold  that  can  well  be  imagined. 

We  saw  none  of  these  animals  in  our  hunting  expeditions  while  on 
our  journey  up  \\\v.  Missouri  River,  and  observed  only  a  few  burrowing 


AMERICAN  BADGER. 


3G.> 


places  which  we  supposed  were  the  remains  of  their  holes  but  whi.h 
were  at  that  time  abandoned.  We  wore  informed  that  Le  ani, 
had  burrows  six  or  seven  feet  deep  runnin,  beneath  the  ground  a  Thl 
depth  to  the  distance  of  more  than  thirty  feet.  The  Indiar  speak  o 
heir  flesh  as  hem,  ,ood ;  that  of  ,he  one  of  which  we  have  been'sp  ak 

2ttr:\::;r^' ''-' '''-'' '-'"'  -^  -^^^  -^  ^-^^  --  - 

oft'^t'd.!;-''"'  'Tf  '''^  '"'"""^'  "^  "^^y  — •<'  ^hat  the  change 
o    coatdurngwmter   rom  a  hair,  or  furry  texture  to  a  woolly  cover 
•ng     s  to  be   observed    in  the  Rocky-mountain   sheep,   (Oois  .1,2) 
an     m  other  animals  exposed  in  that  season  to  intens;  cold.     T  .^ 
.skm  of  0,.s  rnontana,  when  obtained  pending  the  change  from  winter  to 
ummer  pelage,  will  have  the  outside  hairs  grown  out  beyo'd  7h    1 

we  tlt^;  Tl  "^r-^-^r"^  ^"  ^heanima.  dL-ing  the  1 
weather.     Ihe  wool  begins  to  drop  out  in  early  sprin-    leavin-  in  if« 
place  a  coat  of  hair  resembling  that  of  the  elk  or'commo7  :r     hu 
.Hing  as  a  peculiarity  of  certain  species  a  change  of  pela""  uU    di  ^e, 
ent  in  character  from  the  ordinary  thickening  of  die  coat  or  ha 
to  all  ftirred  animals  in  winter,  L  observed  by  l ^  ^e^  rr: 

We  had  an  opportunity  in  Charleston  of  observing  almost  da  Iv  L 
lortmght,  the  habits  of  a  Badger  in  a  menagerie ;  h!  trratt  '  l' 
n  would  suffer  himself  to  be  played  with  and  fondled  by  t  ^  ' 
l>ut  did  not  appear  as  well  pleased  with  strangers;  he  occasL  a,  J 
growled  at  us,  and  would  not  suffer  us  to  examine  him  withouTtTep  ' 
sence  and  aid  of  his  keeper.  wiuiom  mc  pre 

ed  the  Mound.     1  he  heel  did  not  press  on  the  earth  like  that  of  the  bear 
but  was  only  slightly  elevated  above   it.     He  resembled  the  m"     ^j 

become  ™,.„,v  .„„,i,  „,„,  „,•  „„,„„„„„„  ^  „,|^,.,_  ,  mJS,1Z 

*c  „,„,„i,  „r  „„.  n,,.  ,,„,„;  ,„u,  he  „.„„,,,  ,,„  „„„  ,i,.j  ,„  ,,';„  "^„  j™ 


3G6 


/\MERICAN  BADGER. 


with  the  raccoon,  gray  fox,  prairie  wolf,  and  a  dozen  other  species  oi 
animals.  He  was  said  to  be  active  and  playful  at  night,  but  he  seemed 
rather  dull  during  the  day,  usually  lying  rolled  up  like  a  ball,  with  his 
head  under  his  body  for  hours  at  a  time. 

This  Badger  did  not  refuse  bread,  but  preferred  meat,  making  two 
meals  during  the  day,  anu  eating  about  half  a  pound  at  each. 

We  occasionally  saw  him  assuming  rather  an  interesting  attitude, 
raising  the  fore-part  of  his  body  from  the  earth,  drawing  his  feet  along 
his  sides,  sitting  up  in  the  manner  of  the  marmot,  and  turning  his  head 
in  all  directions  to  make  observations. 

The  Badger  delights  in  taking  up  his  residence  in  sandy  prairies,  where 
he  can  indulge  his  extravagant  propensity  for  digging.  As  he  lives  upon 
the  animals  he  captures,  he  usually  seeks  out  the  burrows  of  the  various 
species  of  marmots,  spermophiles,  ground-squirrels,  &c.,  with  which  the 
prairies  abound ;  into  these  he  penetrates,  enlarging  them  to  admit  his 
own  larger  body,  and  soon  overtaking  and  devouring  the  terrified  in- 
mates. In  this  manner  the  prairies  become  so  filled  with  innumerable 
Badger-holes,  that  when  the  ground  is  covered  with  snow  they  prove  a 
great  annoyance  to  horsemen. 

Richardson  informs  us  that  early  in  the  spring  when  they  first  begin 
to  stir  abroad  they  may  be  easily  caught  by  pouring  water  into  the  holes, 
the  ground  at  that  time  being  so  frozen  that  the  water  cannot  escape 
through  the  sand,  but  soon  fills  the  hole  and  its  tenant  is  obliged  to 
come  out. 

The  Badger,  like  the  Maryland  marmot,  is  a  rather  slow  and  timid 
animal,  retreating  to  its  burrow  as  soon  as  it  finds  itself  pursued.  When 
once  in  its  snug  retreat,  no  dexterity  in  digging  can  unearth  it.  Richard- 
son states  that  "  the  strength  of  its  fore-feet  and  claws  is  so  great,  that 
one  which  had  insinuated  only  its  head  and  shoulders  into  a  hole,  re- 
sisted the  utmost  efforts  of  two  stout  young  men,  who  endeavoured  to 
drag  it  out  by  the  hind-legs  and  tail,  until  one  of  them  fired  the  contents 
of  his  fowling-piece  into  its  body." 

This  species  is  believed  to  be  more  carnivorous  than  that  of  Europe, 
{Mcles  taxtts.)  Richardson  states  that  a  female  which  he  had  killed  had 
a  small  marmot  nearly  entire,  together  with  some  field-mice,  in  its  sto- 
mach, and  that  it  had  at  the  same  time  been  eating  some  vegetables. 
As  in  its  dentition  it  approaches  the  skunk,  'vhich  is  very  decidedly  car- 
nivorous in  habit,  we  should  suppose  *hat  its  principal  food  in  its  wild 
state  is  meat. 

From  November  to  April  the  American  Badger  remains  in  its  burrow, 
scarcely  ever  showing  itself  above  ground ;  here  it  passes  its  time  ii' 


AMERICAN  BADGER 

3b7 

astate  ofsemi-torpidity.     It  cannot,  however    be  a  v.r.  «       a    , 

>n  winter,  as  not  only  the  individual  .Uey^VelLl^I  TcU   1T' 

but  even  that  which  we   kcnt  in  N.w  v    ,        ^^'^'^ined  m  Charleston 

through  the  winter.  dL  /^  "i^  ont*  r"'""l'  ^"^"^''^  ^^^'^'^ 
lose  .uch  flesh,  as  they  are;;re:red  ^  '  .^T^^^^^^^^  ''''  ^  ""I 
in  sprin-      As  this    however   L  .k         •  '  ''°'"'"»  ^^'"^ad 

_^  The^  American  Bajger  is  .aid  ,„  p„d„„e  ,™™  .hree  ,„  fl™  y„„„,  „, 

Sfvpral  Eumpran  writers,  and  among  the  more   reren.  r 

h.s  Animal  Kingdom,  have  represented  the  bLI  "letdtaj       "'  ",' 
gloomv  and  snlitip  •  mp^    u  ^  "^tuf^er  as  leading  a  most 

tuted  like  man    it  xvm.U  h^  .    ^/'"""^  "^''^t.     io  a  bemg  consti- 

..•ound,  shuTn:;;rth:  Tf  tn  d  '  '7  "  " -^  '^  ''^^^^"^"  ""^- 
■shadowof  nicht     butfn   th-      ■/   u   I      °"'^   '"™'"^   ^"'"^'^  ""J^''  the 

not  be  happy'L'  'it    We  be.f 'Th^^^^^ '°^"^"''  ^"'^  '^  -''' 

created  no  species  whlbf'       T  '  '^"'  ^  ™  Providence  has 

-.rilv  be  n^Lrb  e  "  d  w  K  .f'""  ''  '^^  organization,  must  neces- 
trust'our  s^r  1  ^  tr  tt;'  '  ^T  ^"  «^~— ,  rather  dis- 
lence  of  the  Creator  "''  ''^'  ""''""^  ^"^  '^^^^'^  benevo- 

GEOGRAPHICAL    DISTRIBUTION. 

-dase..4i:t:t:--r-:i!^«»-:--«.^^ 


ill 


fi'l 


368 


AMERICAN  BAFKJER 


specimen  in  the  museum  of  the  ZooloKi.s.-il  Society  of  London,  that  was 
brought  !)>■  DouoLAsa,  which  is  believed  to  h.ive  come  from  California. 

It  is  very  doubtful  whetlicr  it  exists  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Ameri- 
can continent. 

We  are  not  aware  that  it  has  ever  been  found  either  in  upper  oi 
Lower  Canada,  and  we  could  obtain  no  knowledge  of  it  in  our  re- 
searches  at  Labriidor. 

GKNERAI,    REMARKS. 


The  difference  between  the  European  and  American  species  of  Bad-er 
IS  so  great  I  hat  it  is  unnecessary  lo  institute  a  very  particular  com- 
parison. Our  sp,.cies  may  be  distinguished  from  that  of  Europe  by  its 
muzzle  being  hairy  above,  whilst  it  is  naked  in  the  other;  the  ibre- 
lunbs  are  stouter,  and  the  claws  stronger ;  its  head  is  also  more  conical 
in  (orm.  The  European  species  has  more  conspicuous  ears;  it  has  three 
broad  white  marks,  one  on  the  top  of  the  head,  and  one  on  each  side  and 
between  them  are  two  broad  black  lines,  which  include  the  eyes'  and 
ears;  and  the  whole  of  the  throat  and  under-jaw  are  black;  whilst  the 
throat  and  lower-jaw  of  the  American  species  are  white ;  there  is  also 
a  broau  white  patch  separating  the  black  colours  between  the  sides  of 
the  forehead  and  ear.  Th(.,re  are  several  other  marks  of  dilFerence 
which  It  IS  unnecessary  to  particularize,  as  the  species  are  now  univer- 
sally admitted  to  be  distinct. 

Sabine  suppose.l  the  American  Badger  to  be  a  little  the  smallest 
There  is  a  considerable  difference  among  difTerent  individuals  of  both 
spe<.i,.s,  but  we  have  on  an  average  found  the  two  species  nearly 
«''l-'.il  1"  >^.ze.  Mr.  Saiunf/s  American  specimen  was  a  small  one 
measuring  two  feet  two  inches  in  body.  B.;ffon's  specimen  was  two 
feet  four  inches.  One  of  ours  was  two  ieet  seven.  On  the  other  hand 
Shaw  gives  the  le.igth  of  hea.l  and  body  of  the  European  species  as' 
.•>l)()ut  two  feet.  I-^sci.ER  in  his  synopsis  gives  it  as  two  and  one-third 
Mixi  Cin.KR  as  two  and  a  half  We  have  not  found  any  European  speci' 
men  measuring  more  than  two  feet  six  inches. 

It  was  for  a  long  time  supposed,  and  was  so  stated  by  Buffov,  that 
tliere  was  no  true  species  of  Badg.>r  in  America ;  that  author,  hovvever, 
afterwards  received  a  specimen  that  was  said  to  have  come  from  Labra-' 
dor,  which  was  named  by  Gmf.lin  after  the  country  where  it  was  sup- 
posed  to  be  common.  The  name  "  Lahrmloria"  will  b(.  very  inappro- 
priate  should  our  conjectures  prove  correct,  that  it  is  unknown  in  that 
country.     Buffun's  specimen  had  lost  one  of  its  toes  ;  hence  he  described 


AMERICAN  BADGER. 


n,  that  was 
lilornia. 
the  Ameri- 

n   uppnr  oi 
in  our  n;- 


369 


s  of  Hji(ly;(>r 
(U)liir  coin- 
rope  by  its 
;  the  Ibre- 
nre  conical 
t  has  three 
h  side,  and 
3  eyes  and 
whilst  the 
ore  is  also 
he  sides  of 
difTerence 
)\v  univer- 


It  as  four-toed.    GMELm,  who  gave  it  a  scientific  name    made  "  PnlmU 
tetradactylis  »  one  of  its  specific  characters.  '  ^"''"" 

ScHRK,,..  fipst  considered  the  American  as  a  distinct  species  from  the 
European  Bad.cr;  Cuv.a  seems  to  have  arrived  at  a  differe„    cllu 
•on;  Sn.w  gave  tolerably  good    figures  of  both  species  oTtL   same" 
plate  pomtmg  out  their  specific  dilFerences ;  and  S.Lk  entere     into  a 
m  nu  e  comparison      R.c.uhoso.  (F.  B.  A.)  added   considerab  y  to  our 
knowledge  of  the  history  and  habits  of  the  American  Badger     and  ou 
esteemed   fr.end.   G.  II.  W.rKH„ous..  Esq.,  has  given   descr  pt  onf  and 
exoelen    figures  of  the  skull  and  teeth,  in  which  the  distinc  i      LTk 
m    the  dentifon  of  the  two  species  are    so  clearly  pointed  out.     ha 
nothmg  farther  remains  to  be  added  in  that  department 

We  have  compared  specimens  of  the  Blaireu^  of  Lewis  and  Clark 
found  on  the  plains  of  Missouri,  with  those  obtained  by  TowJl  near 
the    Columbm.  and    also  with    specimens  from  the  plains  of  the    Sas 
katchewan  in  the  Zoological   museum,  and  found  them  allbeon^gTo 
the  same  species.  "oiuugmg  lo 


!  smallest. 
Is  of  both 
ies  nearly 
small  one, 

was  two 
tlusr  hand, 
species  as 

one-third, 
ean  speoi- 


FFON,  that 
however, 
)m  Labra- 
was  sup. 
inappio- 
rn  in  thai 
described 


370 


n  ■ 
■I  ' 


RCIURUS  DOUGLASSII-Baoh. 

Douglass'  Squirrel. 

PLATE  XLVm—Male  and  Female. 

;5.  Hudsooio  quarta  parte  major ;  cauda  corpore  curtiore ;  supra  sub- 
niger,  infra  flavTis. 

CHARACTERS. 

About  one-fourth  larger  than  the  chickaree  {S.  Hudsonius)  ;  tail,  shorter 
than  the  body;  colour,  dark-brown  above,  and  bright-buff  beneath. 

I  SYNONYMES. 

ScuRus  DouoLAssii,  Gmy.  Proceedings  Zool.  Society,  London,  1836,  p.  88.  named, 
but  apparently  not  described. 
Bachman,  monograph  of  the  Genus  Sciurus,  Proceedings  Zool. 
Soc.,  London,  1838. 

DESCRIPTION. 

fncisors,  a  little  smaller  than  those  of  Sciurus  Hudsonius ;  in  the 
upper  jaw  the  anterior  molar,  which  is  the  smallest,  has  a  single  rounded 
eminence  on  the  inner  sid(> ;  on  the  outer  edge  of  he  tooth  there  are  two 
acute  points,  and  there  is  one  in  front ;  the  next  two  grinders,  which  are 
of  equal  size,  have  each  a  similar  eminence  on  the  inner  side,  with  a 
r"-:r  of  points  externally;  the  posterior  grinder,  although  large'r,  is  not 
unlike  the  anteri  )r  one.  In  the  lower  jaw  the  bounding  ridge  of  enamel 
in  each  tooth  forms  an  anterior  and  posterior  pair  of  points.  The  molar-s 
increase  gradually  in  si-^e  from  the  first,  which  is  the  smallest,  to  the  pos- 
terior one,  which  is  the  largest. 

This  species,  in  the  form  of  its  body,  is  not  very  unlike  Sciurus  Hud- 
sonius', its  ears  and  tail,  however,  are  much  shorter  in  proportion,  and  in 
other  respects,  as  well  as  in  size,  it  differs  widely  from  Hudsonius.' 

Head,  considerably  broader  ;  and  nose,  less  elongated  and  blunter  than 
in  the  latter  ;  body,  long  and  slender ;  ears,  rather  small,  nearly  rounded, 
slightly  tufted  posteriorly.  As  usual  in  this  genus,  the  third  inner  toe  is' 
the  longest,  and  not  the  second,  as  in  the  spermophiles. 


lupra  sub- 
it/,  shorter 

88,  named, 
idings  Zool. 


;  in  file 
5  rounded 
3  are  two 
I'hich  are 
,  with  a 
3r,  is  not 
if  enamel 
e  molars 
the  pos- 

Hs  Hud- 
ti,  and  in 

iter  than 
rounded, 
er  toe  ia 


I 


-I' stone  b, 'A''"  i I  iluohrocK 


y 


~-  ^  '  ''<<j'  <f/. 


nNdlurfoyjJfluiuboi  ,''H; 


7 


/<.• 


^ 


!'<'<'  n  , 


Y 


■li.-  i'rmieu  oj.oi»jij  J  rjeiiui;--:,;* 


DOUGLASS'  SQUIRREL. 


371 


COLOUR. 

The  whiskers,  which  are  loneer  thnn  th^  v,„„j  l,     . 

which  ,s  d.stichous  but  not  broad,  is  for  three-fourths  of  >    ,        u        ' 
colour  of  the  back  •   in  th.  r,.iJ^      .""^^''''^^^■'^"'^ths  of  its  length  the 

hairs  are   black  W  the  HT'^T  '  "  '''  ^^^"""^^  °^  '"^^  ^-'  ^he 

eyes,  are  bright-buir.    The  colour,  0^1  J",  t^l     T      "'"^ '''■' 
separated  by  a  line  of  bl-,ct    ™„>„  f  ""'''"'  P""'  "^e 

along  ,he  /ank,  ,„  ,he  "h  1,  TT'"*' "'  """  Moulders,  and  rnnnin^ 
body  and   isTbraW     te\  ,"  ""^^  '"  "-^  '""'^'''  "f  'I-" 

a.a  r„™  a  si,b. .,  .„  dU.Ltn"i'ir  :;:rs  °:::  - 

DIMENSIONS. 

Length  from  point  of  nose  to  insertion  of  tail 

Tail  (vertebrte)     -        .        .        . 

Tail,  including  fur        ... 

Height  of  ear  posteriorly 

Palm  to  end  of  middle  fore-  claw  - 

Heel  and  middle  hind-claw  - 

HABrrs. 

Our  specimens  of  DougIa..s'  Squirrel  were  procured  bv  Mr  T 
He  remarks  in  his  notes  :-•' This  is  a  v.rv  nlLrr  i         ^         Tovvnsend. 
pine  trees  along  the  shores  of  the  Cormbl^"   "IIh^^^^^^^^  ''' 

Carolina  .squirrel  lays  in  a  great  nuantitv  of  7  Tf  ''"""'°" 

the  winter  months.  This  rL":^:  .I'tn:  riT'"''""  ''T 
few  acorns.  Late  in  autumn  it  may  be  seen  vervh  "^'^7'"^'  ^''^  « 
trees,  throwing  down  its  winter  s^ock     afte"  17.      '•  "  '^'  '"^^  °^^^« 

it  gathers  in  and  stows  away  its  l:re:  ^l^^ZTl  "'  ''  '""^' 
ration "  j  ,    n  reamncss  lor  its  long  incarce 


tnehn. 

liaet. 

8 

4 

4 

6 

« 

4 

0 

6 

I 

4 

1 

10 

I 


372 


DOUGLASS'  SQUIRREL. 


OEOGRAPHICAL    DISTRIBUTION. 

Douglass  obtained  his  specimens  of  this  Squirrel  on  the  Rocky  Moun- 
vams,  and  Townsend  found  it  on  the  Columbia  River. 

GENERAL    REMARKS, 

This  species  was  found  by  Douglass  and  by  Townsend  about  the  same 

time.     These  gentlemen,  if  we  have  been  rightly  informed,  met  together 

m  the  far  West.     We  drew  up  a  description  from  specimens  sent  us  by 

Mr.  TowNSENn,  and  used  the  grateful  privilege  of  a  describer,  in  namin- 

It  {S.  Toumscndn)   after  the  individual  who  we  supposed  had  been  the 

first  discoverer.     Under  this  name  we  sent  our  description  to  the  Aca<I. 

of   Nat.  Sciences  of  Philadelphia,  whicli  was  read  Aug,  7th,  1838      After 

arriving  in  England,  however,  the  same  year,  we  saw  a  similar  specimen 

in  the  Museum  of  the  Zool.  Society,  and  heard  that  it  had  been  ,mme<l 

by  Gray,  on  the  11th   October,  183(i,  who  had  called  it  after  Douglas. 

(S  Douglassu.)     He  ha,l  m,t,  as  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  ascertain' 

published  any  .lescription  of  it.     All  that  we  can  find  in  reference  to  this 

species  is  the  followi.ig  :  "  Mr.  Grav  gave  a  description  of  two  foxes    a 

s(iuirrel  {Saurus  Douglassii),  and  three   hares."     The  Ibxes  and    hares 

were  descnbed  by  him  in  the  lAIagazine  of  Nat.  Hist.,  (new  series)  Nov 

lH;n   vol   i.,  p.  .".TS,  but  for  some  reason  he  appears  never  to  have  pub- 

fished  a  <Iescription  of  this  species. 

We,  however,  supposing  that  he  had  described  it,  immediately  chan-ed 
our  name  to  that  proposed  by  Grav,  and  in  our  monograph  of  the  genus 
assigned  to  him  the  credit  of  having  been  the  first  describer,  althou-^h  he 
had,  it  appears,  only  named  the  animal.  ° 


373 


SPERMOPHIius  DOUGLASSU.-IWao,o. 

Douolasb'  Spermophile. 
PLATE  XLLX. 

CHARACTERa, 
BVNONYMRfl. 

AKcroMi8(SPEUMoP„„.i,B?)DouoLA88n,  Richardson  P  R    a         ,. 
AU..OMV.  (SPKUMOP„a.s)  BK.OHEV,  Rich"rB  •^;p^-lP-_f  • 

DESCRIPTION. 

In  the  genemi  form  of  fho  Imdv  Doii,ri.,««'  e  ,  ..    , 

-imila.e,.  .o  .h;  N^  I™  /      '^  ".^  and  .he  r„™  „n.,  head, 
clearly  dc*„a.„  .he  ,e„„,  ;„  .hictVM™;        '  "■°'"  "'  '"   *"'■ 


lonerrst ;  the  nails  arc  of  modcrat 


«  Nize,  and 


374 


DOUGLASS'   SPERMOPHILE. 


slightly  hooked.  The  feet  are  covered  with  short  adpressed  hairs  to  the 
roots  of  the  nails  ;  the  tail  is  long  and  cylindrical,  the  longest  hairs  two 
inches  in  length.     Mamma;  ten,  four  pectoral  and  six  abdominal. 


COLOUR. 


Incisors,  dark  orange ;  moustaches,  black  ;  on  the  nose  and  foreheiul, 
a  tinge  of  reddish-brown ;  around  the  eyes,  white ;  inner  surface  of  ear, 
dull  yellowish  -  brown  ;  outer  surface,  dark -brown,  becoming  nearly 
black  at  the  tips ;  sides  of  the  face,  yellowish  white.  The  sides  of  the 
neck  and  shoulders  have  a  hoary  appearance.  There  is  a  broad,  dark- 
Jirown  stripe  commencing  on  the  neck,  widening  in  its  descent,  and  con- 
tinuing along  the  centre  of  the  back  for  about  half  the  length  of  the 
body,  when  it  gradually  blends  with  the  colours  on  the  sides  and  hips, 
which  are  irregularly  speckled  with  white  and  black  on  a  yellowish- 
brown  ground.  Nails,  black ;  inner  surface  of  legs,  and  whole  un- 
der surface  of  body,  dull  yellowish-white.  All  the  feet  are  grayish- 
brt  ^yn. 

The  under-fur  on  every  part  of  the  back  is  dark-brown;  the  longer 
hairs  are  brown  at  their  roots,  then  yellowish ;  those  on  the  dorsal  lino 
are  broadly  tipped  with  black,  whilst  on  the  shoulders  the  tips  are 
white.  The  spots  on  the  back  and  hips  are  formed  by  some  of  the  hairs 
being  tipped  with  white,  others  with  black.  The  hairs  on  the  tail  are  at 
their  roots  white,  then  three  times  annulated  with  black  and  white, 
and  are  tipped  with  white  ;  thus  when  distichously  arranged,  (which, 
however,  does  not  seem  natural  to  the  animal,)  the  tail  presents  three 
narrow  longitudinal  black  stripes,  and  four  white  ones.  Under-surface 
of  tail,  dull  yellowish-gray. 

There  are  some  variations  in  the  colour  of  different  specimens.  An 
old  female  th.at  was  suckling  her  young  at  the  time  she  was  caught  had 
the  dark  dorsal  line  on  the  -shoulders  very  indistinctly  visible,  and  her 
feet  were  much  lighter  coloured  than  in  youngsr  specimens. 


DIMENSIONS. 


An  old  female. 

Length  of  head  and  body 

Tail  (vertebra;) 

Tail,  to  end  of  fur     - 

Height  of  ear 

From  heel  to  longest  nail 

From  eye  to  point  of  nose 


131 

inches 

■  7i 

do. 

-  0 

do. 

•     i 

do. 

.2i 

do. 

-  14 

do. 

1 


DOUGLASS'  SPERMOPHILE, 


An  old  male. 

Length  of  head  and  body 
Tail  (vertebra;) 
Tail,  to  end  of  fur 
Height  of  ear  -        .        . 

From  heel  to  point  of  nail 
Voung. 

Length  of  head  and  body 
Tail  (vertebras) 
Tail,  to  end  of  fur    - 

Height  of  ear  - 

I'arsus    -        .        .        . 


375 


13J 

inches 

8 

do. 

9i 

do. 

1 

do. 

2i 

do. 

n 

do. 

5i 

do. 

oi 

do. 

i 

do. 

2 

do. 

HABfTS. 


lurnish  us  with  any  account  of  them 

vviiu  uiis  species,  Ur.  Richardson  states  that    "Mr  fr.,., 
phUe  burrow.  ,„  great  number,  in  ,he  sandy  declivitie,  „„,!  dry  pt  ™  n 

nouses.     Ihey  frequently  stand  upon  their  hind-lee«!  wh^n   1.  i  • 
round  about  tbe..     ,„  runuin,  tbey  carry  the  tai,  s-neSi;™  i       'j 
but  when  pa.,„g  over  any  little  inequality,  it  is  raised  a,'f  "p    ve  I 
2,^7  »oded.     In  rainy  weather,    and  when  the  iields  are  weTand 
■brty,  they  eome  but  litMe  above  ground.     Thev  tate  ,i,„  ,i  f 

any  one  parses  within  twenty  or  thi^  yardslflta „      ;„'T  J  - 

an.  then  enh^r.t,  they  sooueonte  out  again,  but  with  eaution,  a  d  i    Jll 

Arlemenas  and  other  vegetable  matters  were  found  in  .heir  stomachs." 

OEOORAPHICAL    DISTRIBUTION. 

One  of  the  specimens  obtained  by  Mr. Townbend  is  marked  "Fall,  ot 
tl»3  Columbia   IW»  another  "  Walla- walla;"  the  specimen  pr  l^d 
by   Do,;oi.ss  was  obtained  on  the  banks  of  the  Columbia  River   and 
^ur  conjectures  are  correct,  that  S.  Bccchei^i  is  the  same  as  the  n  I 

species,  it  exists  also  in  considerable  numbers  in  Ca  ifomt  '     "' 


376 


DOUGLASS'  SPERMOPHILE. 


GENERAL    REMARKS. 


The  first  description  of  this  species  was  giveu  by  Dr.  Richardson,  wnj 
received  from  Douglass  a  hunter's  skin,  which,  containing  no  skull,  he 
was  prevented  from  deciding  on  the  genus.  We  have  ascertained  that  in 
its  dentition  it  is  a  true  Spermophile,  and  in  all  other  respects  possesses 
the  characteristics  of  that  genus. 

In  the  valuable  collection  of  the  London  Zoological  Society  we  ex- 
amined a  specimen  of  S.  Beecheyi,  brought  by  Mr.  Collie,  which  so 
strikingly  resembles  this  species,  that  we  are  greatly  inclined  to  think 
they  will  yet  be  found  identical ;  we  have,  therefore,  quoted  it  for  the 
present  as  a  synonyme,  but  marked  it  with  a  doubt,  as  an  examination 
of  a  greater  number  of  specunens  might  probably  change  our  viewi. 


f  i: 


liTJ 


SPERMOPHILUS    RICH  ARD  SONII.-Sab 

Richardson's  Spkhmophilk. 

PLATE  L. 

Scluro  IIu(l-.nio  nliquantulum  major;  dorso  fulvescente,  pilis  nigris 
mixtis ;  ventre  lusco-rulescens ;  cauda  mediocri,  ad  extremum  ni-'-a 
aoice  fulv    ;  auriculis  brevissimis. 


CHARACTERS. 

A  Hide  larger  than  the  Hudson's  Bay  squirrel;  back,  yellowish-gray, 
interspersed  with  black  haw  ;  belly,  pale  grayish-orang?. ;  tail,  rather  short 
black  V.L  the  extremity,  tipped  with  fawn  colour  ;  ears,  very  short 

SYNONYMKS. 

Arctomvs  RicnARDSONii.  Sabine,  Linn.  Trans,,  vol.  xiii.,  p.  580,  t.  28. 
IJem,  Fmnkiin's  Jour.,  p.  662. 
"  "  Griffitii's  An.  Kingd.,  vol.  v.,  p.  246. 

Tawney  American  Mai  mot,  Oodm.,  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  m. 
Arctomys  (Spermophilus)  Richaudsonii,  Rich.,  F.  B.A.,  p.  164,  pi.  H. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Body,  rather  short  and  thick ;  forehead,  arched ;  nose,  blunt  covered 
with  short  hairs;  margins  of  the  nostrils,  and  septum,  naked;  whiskers 
lew,  and  shorter  than  the  head;  eyes,  large ;  ears,  small,  rounded' 
clothed  with  short  hairs  on  both  surfaces ;  cheek-pouches,  of  modP-ate 
si:!e.     The  fur  on  the  whole  body  is  short  and  fine. 

Legs,  rather  short ;  nails,  long,  weak,  compressed,  and  slightly  arched 
On  the  fore-feet  there  are  four  toes  and  a  minute  thumb;  the  toes  are 
covered  on  the  upper  surface  with  short  hairs  which  reach  the  root  of 
the  nails.  Palms,  naked,  containing  five  callosuies.  The  thumb  has  a 
very  short  joint  and  is  covered  by  a  convex  nail.  Middle  toe  longest  • 
the  first  and  third  are  of  equal  length,  and  the  outer  one  is  shortest  and 
farthest  back. 

On  the  hind-feet  there  are  five  toes.     The  three  middle  ones  are  nearly 
of  equal  length,  the  other  two  are  smaller,  and  are  situated  f.irtb.,r  Hn-k 

48 


378 


RlCHA!lI»S(>\'a  SPERMOPHILE. 


the  claws  are  shorter  than  those  of  the  fore-feet ;  the  solts  are  naked, 
but  the  heel  is  covered  with  hairs  along  the  edges  which  curve  over  it. 
The  tail  is  not  very  bushy  and  is  about  the  size  of  that  of  the  chipping- 
squirrel,  {Tamiax  Lystrri.) 


if- 


COLOUR. 

Teeth,  light  orange  ;  whiskers,  black  ;  nails,  dark-brown  ;  the  back  is 
yellowish-brown,  intermixed  with  a  few  blackish  hairs  ;  on  the  sides, 
this  colour  is  a  shade  lighter ;  on  the  nose,  there  is  a  slight  tinge  of 
chesnut-brown.  The  cheeks,  throat,  and  inside  of  the  thighs,  are  dull 
white  ;  belly,  brownish-gray.  The  tail  is  of  the  colour  of  the  back;  the 
hairs  on  the  margins,  near  the  end,  are  dark-brown  tipped  with  yellowish- 
white. 

DIMENSIOyS. 


Adult  female. 

From  point  of  nose  to  reot  of  tail 

Head  .... 

Tail  (vertebrae) 

Tail,  to  end  of  hair 

From  heel  to  end  of  middle  claw 

Height  of  ear 


9i  inches, 
2  do. 
2i  do. 
3J  do. 
li  do. 
Oi     do. 


HABITS. 

We  possess  no  personal  knowledge  of  this  species,  nearer  having  met 
with  it  in  a  living  state.  The  specimens  from  which  our  figures  and 
descriptions  were  made,  were  obtained  by  Mr.  Townsend,  and  we  are 
indebted  to  the  <  xcellent  work  of  Richardson  for  the  following  account 
of  its  habits :  "  This  animal  inhabits  sandy  prairies,  and  is  not  found  in 
thickly  wooded  parts.  It  is  one  oi  the  animals  known  to  the  residents  of 
the  fur  countries  by  thr  name  of  Ground-squirrel,  and  to  Canadian  voy- 
agers  by  that  of  Siffleur.  It  has  considerable  resemblance  to  the  squirrels, 
but  is  less  active,  and  has  less  sprightliness  and  elegance  in  its  attitudes.  ' 

"It  can  scarcely  be  said  to  live  in  villages,  though  there  are  sometimes 
three  and  four  of  its  burrows  on  a  sandy  hummock  or  other  favourable 
spot.  The  burrows  generally  fork  or  branch  ofl!"  near  the  surface,  and 
descend  obliquely  downwards  to  a  considerable  depth;  some  few  of 
them  have  more  than  one  cntranci .  The  earth  scraped  out,  in  fornang 
them,  is  thrown  up  in  a  small  mound  at  the  mouth  of  the  hole,  and  on 
it  the  animal  seats  itself  on  its  hind-legs,  to  overlook  the  short  grass, 


RICHARDSON'S  SPERMOI'HILE. 
and  reconnoitre  before  it  ventures  to  mak^  an  excursion      Fn  .v.         ■    ' 

than  one  from  the  same  hole  unrswhl  T  ""\'  °''"^"^'  """'' 
into  a  burrow  already  occupie^i  lyZ^^'  ^^r  ^^  ^'^ 
worn  pathways  diverging  from  each  burrow  and  some  o^tl  "  ' 
are  observed,  i..  the  spring,  to  lead  directlv  to^h  M  '  '''"^' 

being  most  probably  Lmed  by  the  ZJ^  •  "^^^^^°"""^  holes. 

They  place  L  sentL.s.  and  e  e  a^P^L  rbVL'"^^^  ''  t  '""^• 
the  Tawny  Marmots  residing  in  the  neTghbourhood  '^°"?.^'- ,  b«*-^- 

ingout  tor  himself.  They  never  au^  !hp  v.  7  ' ''''7 '"^'"'^"^^ '°'''^- 
believe  they  pass  the  .^L  par  ^h  itln'a  1  T'''  ^"'  ' 
.round  not  being  thawed  when  I  was  at  Cain  W  ThadTr  ^'^ 
portunity  of  ascertaining  bow  their  sieenin^  .nn  .        ?  """  ''P' 

nor  whether  they  lay  up^tores  of  1     ir^ot  '  Ab^^^^^^^ 
week  of  April,  or  as  soon  as  a  considerajje  por^on        The  ^        f  •' 
bare  of  snow,  they  come  forth,  and  when  caught  o,    thei     ittfe  '' 

sions,   their    cheek-pouches   ffenerallv   n«nf  •     1  ^  ^''''"'"- 

the  pl„,„,.     They  are  fa.  when  they  first  appear  a,  d  ,1,      f  ■  "^         °" 
eoadition  ;  b„,  ,he  male.,  immediately  gl  -^C^:,  : f, ''T  '"'  "  '"  ^'»'' 
the  e„,jr,e  of  a  fortnight  they  beoom^.ean  IT.      'h  if  C',  ^  j 
off.     They  run  pret.y  quick,  bu,  clumsily,  and  their  .aita  aT,b 
t.me  move  up  and  down  „i,h  a  jerkin/motion      Tb       ,■  "'""' 

urr„„,  on, he  approach  or  dan^e!.  hu.^:  tn.ul  7„t  rrr.f:'' 

He  ,uiet,y  on  >>.f^^'t,Xr[Z:tT^'  "T"l'  '" 

eatin.  in  .help rt  th  T™"'  'b  J  '"1  '^"'""^  ^  "''''«"'"«  '-"=-• 
f,  ne  sprmg  the  young  buds  and  tender  sprouts  nf  T.^rK. 

Plan^,    and  ,„  ,he  antnmn  tbe  seed,  of  ,ra.e,  and  C^  min  „  Ir"' 

.  JX  ^^j^r.  :r::;;t"  ""^^■. » "-'? -".iJJefr  or 

"SpvLi     ^'/'•'^V.  '•'^°*^''P''''^'^hc  difference  in  letters 

.tri::::*:;r^^ 

kr   wn  to  ™b         „  ■.    ,''°""''"t'"  '■•''""'  "''"*»'-  h"™  =>'»  >>"" 

.heirfle  hirnXrb         b"'  T      '"■  ""'™   ""^^  ^"""^  '»  »-™-  - 
lueir  nesn  is  palatable  when  they  are  fat.** 


•IbO 


RICHARDSON'S  SPERMOPHILt. 


OEOORAPHICAL     DISTRIBUTION. 


lU     > 


This  species  has  not  been  observed  further  north  than  latitude  55^.  In 
the  appendix  to  Franklin's  Journey,  it  was  said  to  inhabit  the  shores 
of  the  Arctic  Sea,  but  it  appears  that  another  species  had  been  mis- 
taken for  it.  It  is  found  in  the  grassy  plains  that  lie  betw-  >  u  the  north 
and  south  branches  of  the  Saskn^i  how.Tn  River,  It  is  ver\  comnion  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Carlton  House,  its  burrows  being  scatti  red  at  short 
distances  over  the  whole  plain.  Tovvnsend  obtained  his  specimens  in  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  (about  latitude  45",)  and  we  have  traced  it  as  far  south 
as  latitude  38". 


GENERAL    REMARKS. 

"  The  Tawny  Marmot  Squirrel  is  most  readily  distinguished  from  the 
true  squirrels  by  the  smallness  of  its  ears,  the  shape  of  its  incisors,  which 
are  larger  but  not  so  strong  and  much  less  compressed ;  the  second  and 
not  the  third  toe  being  the  'ai<rest,  and  its  comparatively  long  claws  and 
less  bushy  tail.  It  seems  l.>  be  the  American  representative  of  A.  concolor 
or  the  Jevraska  of  Siberia." — (Richardson.)  The  males  of  this  species 
are  represented  as  very  pugnacious  in  their  habits,  and  we  have  repre- 
sented one  in  our  plate  that  has  lost  the  end  of  its  tail,  the  figure  being 
taken  from  one  of  the  specimens  sent  to  us. 


INI).  X 


'' 
i 


American  nudger, 

Beaver,         ,        , 

Cro;^    Fox,    . 

-  Wliiu  .Dotcd  Mouse, 

Arcloni)  »,  Genus, 

— Monnx, 

Arvicola,  Genua,  ,         , 
•  Pennsylvaiuca,        . 


Badger,  American, 

Bay  Lynx,   .... 

Beaver, 

Bla.     Rat,    .... 

Squirrel,     . 

Canada  Lynx,       .        .        . 

—  I'orcupine,        . 

Poiiclicd  Rat,     . 

Carolina  Gray  Squirrel, 

Castor,  Genus, 

Fiber  (var.  Americiinus), 

'at  Squirrel, 
(Jhickiiree,    .... 
Chipping      .lirrel. 
Collared  I'uecary, 
Common  Araeriean  Skunk,    . 

Shrew  Mole, 

Wild  Cat, 


Flying  Squirrel,    . 


Cotton  Rat, 
Cross  Fox,  . 

Dougla>>='  Sfiermophilo, 


.  360  Douglass' S(i,.irrel, 

.  347  Downy  Squirrel,  . 

.     45  D\   otyles,  G.  nus, 

•  3^0 T'jrquatua, 

.       S 

.     .u.  Fiber,  Genus, 

.  340 Zibcthicus, 

.  341  Fisher, 

Florida  Rat 

.  360  Flying  Squirrel,  Common, 

2 Oregon, 

.  347  Fox,  American  Cross,  . 

.  189  Gray,    . 

.  261  Four-striped  Ground  Squirrel, 


.  136 
.  277 
.  332 

.     6., 

.  347 

.     ib. 

145 

.  135 
.  65 
.  233 

.  ■■! 
.  81 
.  2 
216 
,  228 
45 

373 


'^lenus  Arotomys, 

Arvicola, 

Castor, 

Dycotylee, 

Fibei 

Gulo 

H,  strix, 

•  Lepus, 

Lynx, 

Meles, 

Mephitis, 

Mus, 


Mustela, 

•  Neofoma, 

Pseudostoma, 

Pteroriiys, 


—  Putorius, 

—  Scalops 


.  870 
.  19() 

.  233 
ib. 

.  107 
.  108 
.  307 
.  32 
.  216 
.  132 
.     4S 

.  iGa 

.  195 

.     16 

.   S40 

.  347 

,   233 

.   107 

.  202 

,  277 

25 

) 

3r  ' 

31U 
189 
307 

31 
332 
132 
250 

81 


1 1 


382 

Genus  Sfiurus,      . 

Sij,'tiio(loii, 

S|H'i'niti]iliilu!i, 

TiiiniaH, 

Viiljioa,       , 

(iliittnii, 
Griiy  Fox,     . 

Riibltit, 

Hcjuirrel,  Curolinii, 

— Migratory,  or  Northern, 

Groimd-Honr,         ,         , 

(luld,  (leiius,         .         . 

Luseus,        .        . 

lluckce, 

lliire,   Miirsli, 

Norlliprn,    ,         , 

I'oliir. 

Swamp,     , 

■  Townsend's  Rocky  Mountaip., 

Hare  S(iiiirrt'l, 
Miuison's  Bay  Squirrel, 
Hystrix,  Genus,    . 
Dorsjita,  , 

Lepus,  Gen\is,      .        . 

Anu'ricanus, 

■ A(|uaticus, 

(ilacialia,  .        , 

— — —  Palustris, 

Sylvalictis, 

• Townsendii, 

Leoj:  -d  Sperniopliile,    , 
Iiynx,  '  Semis, 

Canada, 

Canadensis, 

itiifus, 

^^arn^nf-Sf|uir^el,  Parry's, 
Maryland  Marmot, 
Marsh-Hare, 
Marten,  Pennant's, 
Meles,  Gemi.s,        .         . 
Lihradoria, 


Pag* 

38  Migrrutory  (Jray  Squirrel 

227  Mink 

"78  Mole,  ('ommoii  Hhrew, . 

(i4  Mouse,  Ameriean  Wiiite-tboted, 

44 VVilson's  Meadow, 


.  202 

Mils,  (Jenus, 

.   1(>2 

Leucopus,     . 

.7? 

---Wiittus,         . 

.    63 

Musk-Rat,     . 

205 

5Iusquasli,    , 

.     16 

Mastela,  Genus,    . 

.  202 

Canadensis, 

ib. 

Neotoma,  Genus, 

.     65 

Druinmondii, 

.  151 

Fioridana, 

93     Northern  iJray  Squirrel, 

242 Hare,  . 

287 
25    Ore},'on  Flying  Sijuirrel, 
329 
125     Parry's  Marmot-Siiuirrel, 

277     Sperniophyle,    . 

ib.     Peccary,  Collared, 
Pennant's  Marten, 
25     Polar  Hare, 
93     l'orcii|iine,  Canada, 
287     Poiicheil  Rat,  Canada,  . 
Psuiulo.stoma,  Genus,    . 
Bursarius, 


242 

151 

173 

25 

294 

1 

136 

ib. 

2 


I'teroniys,  Genus,  . 

Oregonensis, 

Volucella,  .    . 

Putorius,  Genus. 
Vison,  , 


Mephitis,  Genus, 
Chinga. 


Rabbit,  Gray, 
Rat,  P.lack,   . 

77 Canada  Pouched, 

16 Cotton, 

J  31 Florida, 

307     Red-bellied  Squirrel,     . 
360     Squirrel, 

ib.     Richardson's  Colnrabiati  Squirrel, 

3!  6    Sncrmophile, 

317     Rocky  Mountain  Neotoma      . 


fit 

360 

9fiO 

81 

.  300 
.  341 
.  189 
.  300 
.  189 
.  108 
.  ib. 
.  807 
.  ib. 

.  31 
.  323 
.  32 
.  366 
.  93 

.  13S) 

.  77 
.  ib. 
.  233 
.  307 
.  242 
.  277 
.  332 
.  332 
.  ib. 
■  132 
.  Ib. 
.  216 
.  260 
.  iU 

.  173 
.  189 
.  333 
.  228 
.  33 
.  292 
.  125 
.  41 
.  377 
.  325 


i^^^^ 


INDEX. 


808 

9fiO 
81 
.  300 
.  341 
.  189 
.  300 
.  189 
.  108 
.  ib. 
.  807 
.    il). 

.    31 

.  323 

.  32 
.  afl5 
.     93 

.  13S) 

.  77 
.  ib. 
.  233 

.  307 
.  242 
.  277 
.  332 
.  3.32 
.  ib. 
.  132 
.  Ib. 
.  216 
.  260 
.     iU 


Sunlopg,  Grp  '»,     ,  , 

■  AquMiio'. 
Sciurns,  C      »,     . 

— — — —  t'lui  lim .'  i' 
1  'neroti 

Doiri/lii  ,sl|,     . 

h'cn  .ij,'iiiiventri8, 

IInflMonius,    . 

I<iiiiii,'erii8,     . 

Liinugiiiosus, 

Lcponmis, 

— — —  Mijfi'iitoriua,  . 

Mollijulosus, . 

Nirrcr,    . 

Rit'linrdnonii, 


Shrew  Mole,  Common  American, 
Sigiiiodon,  GoiniH, 

-  Hisj)i(lum, 


Skunk,  Common  American, 
Sot't-huircd  Squirrel 
Squirrel,  Blaok, 

Carolina  Gray, 

Cat,  . 

('Iiiekaree, 

Chipping, . 

Common  Flying, 

■ Douglass', 

Downy,     . 

Migratory  Gray, 

Northern  Gray, 

Oregon  Flying, 


Page 

.  81 
.  ib. 
.  38 
.  56 
.  145 
.  370 
.  292 
.  125 
.  214 
.  199 
.  329 
.  2G5 
.  167 
.  261 

.  4! 

.  81 

.  227 

.  228 

.  317 

.  167 

.  261 

.  65 

,  145 
126 
66 
216 
370 
199 
265 
ib. 
132 


H(|iiirr.'l,  Red-bcllied,    . 

Rirh.'irdson'H,  . 

Sperm  )|)hiliiM,  (umiuh,    . 

— DoujrIaMsii, 

— I'arryi,    . 

Rieliiirdsonii,   . 

— Truleeem  lineatus, 

Sperni()|)liilc,  Donglasn', 

liCopurd, 

I'arry'N, 

RichardHon's,     . 

Swamp  Hare, 

Tamias,  Geinis,     .         .        , 

— • Lystori,  . 

Quadrivittatus, 

-— TnvviiHondii,    . 

Townsend's  Ground  Squirrel, 

Rocky  Mountain  Hare 

Vulpe.s,  Genus 

— Fu'vus  (var.  Decussatus), 

Virginianus, 


Wild-Cat,  Common  American, 

White-footed  Mouse,      . 

Wilson's  Meadow  Mouse, 

Wolverene, 

Wood-Chuck, 

Wooly  Squirrel,    . 


888 
pigf 

.  29!! 
.  41 
.  76 
.  373 

.  77 
.  377 
.  294 
.  273 
.  294 
.  77 
.  277 
.  287 

.  04 
.  66 
.  196 
.  159 

1,59 
.     i;6 

44 

46 

163 

.   a 

300 
341 
202 
16 
214 


173 
180 
332 
228 

32 
292 
126 

41 
377 
225 


^VV^eTital    rj^ 


^^/•;v 


il 


